2 weeks agoUSA UpdateComments Off on Upway launches huge sale with up to 60% off e-bikes – but you’ll have to be quick
LOOKING to cut the cost of your commute? The Upway e-bike sale makes it easier than ever to speed off with savings.
The online marketplace is offering up to 60% off major bike brands like Cannondale and Specialized – but you’ll have to be quick, as the sale doesn’t run for long.
UpwayUpway offers the largest selection of e-bikes available online[/caption]
Founded in 2021, Upway offers a wide selection of high-quality e-bikes, including new and pre-owned options.
If you’re shopping for a refurbished ride, you’ll bag an e-bike that has been thoroughly inspected and repaired by professional in-house master mechanics.
Whether you’re searching for a folding model that minimizes space and emissions, or a mountain bike that won’t break the bank, it’s well worth looking at the cycling choices on offer from Upway.
Simply add your favorite e-bike to your basket and use the code UPWAYFAN to score impressive savings.
Customers who spend $1000 or more will get $100 off their first e-bike order when they use the exclusive code.
One of the brand’s best-value options is the certified pre-owned Cannondale Adventure Neo 2 EQ, which has been slashed by 59%.
Originally priced at $3,525, the electric bike now costs $1,449 – that means you’ll ride off with an extra $2,000 in your pocket.
The Cannondale Adventure Neo 2 EQ is a great choice for shoppers seeking a pre-owned hybrid e-bike that’s well-equipped for everyday adventures.
It’s suitable for individuals between 5ft 7in and 6ft 6in and has traveled 1,016 miles since 2022.
The e-bike also boasts a high-capacity battery for long range, and its step-through frame and upright riding position make it a comfortable option for riders of all levels.
If you’re searching for a more budget-friendly e-bike, the Momentum Lafree E+ is worth a closer look.
Now discounted to $1,099, the Momentum Lafree E+ was sold to Upway by a business and is a solid choice for beginners and seasoned riders facing a busy city commute.
It’s suitable for individuals between 5ft 7in and 5ft 11in, and features smooth assistance to help tackle small hills with ease.
The Specialized Turbo Tero X 5.0 is a certified pre-owned, full-suspension electric mountain bike that has been slashed by 34%, and the Aventon Sinch.2 is a certified pre-owned, portable option that is easy to carry and store.
2 weeks agoUSA UpdateComments Off on Putin’s chilling plot to march 10,000 troops into ANOTHER European nation revealed by its PM… & it could spiral into WW3
RUSSIA reportedly plans to deploy 10,000 troops into a breakaway region of another Eastern European nation – igniting fears of Putin’s war spilling further across the continent.
Moldova’s Prime Minister has warned the Kremlin wants to march troops into Transnistria – a Moscow-friendly enclave that’s internationally recognised as part of Moldova.
AFPCars wait in line at the crossing point between the self-proclaimed republic of Transnistria and Moldova[/caption]
EPAMoldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean speaks during a press conference[/caption]
ReutersRussian troops have been based in Transnistria since 1992[/caption]
EPARussian servicemen walking along at an area in the Kursk region, Russia[/caption]
Transnistria receives significant economic and military support from Moscow, and the region’s politicians have voiced their intent for it to become part of Russia.
“This is a huge effort to undermine Moldovan democracy,” he told the paper.
“They want to consolidate their military presence in the Transnistrian region.”
Russian troops have been based in Transnistria since 1992, when the Kremlin supported the region in its war of independence from Moldova.
However, the numbers have substantially wound down over the years, with there currently only being about 1,500 soldiers fighting under the Russian banner.
But only a few of these will have actually been sent by Moscow, with most being locals who signed up.
Transnistria isn’t internationally recognised as an independent state, and is not a member of the UN.
Think tank The Institute for the Study of War forecast last October that Russia might use its ties to Transnistria “to establish long-term influence over Moldovan domestic and foreign policies”.
Recean further highlighted the ominous military threats to Ukraine and NATO that could arise from extra Russian troops in the region.
Its location to Ukraine’s southwest could raise fresh headaches for Kyiv if Russia used Transnistria to open up a new front in the war.
“You can imagine with 10,000 troops, what the leverage and pressure would be on the southwestern part of Ukraine,” he said.
But Recean also noted the area’s proximity to Romania, which is a NATO country.
If Russian forces threatened or attacked Romania – or any other NATO member – then the entire alliance would be obliged to come to its aid.
NATO Article 5 sets out that an attack on one member state is an attack on all, meaning Russian attacks against a NATO country could quickly spiral into all-out war.
Transnistria's history
Transnistria is a tiny slither of land along Moldova's border with Ukraine.
The region has been controlled by Russian backed separatists for decades following the collapse of the Soviet Union.
It declared independence in 1990, which was followed by a war that saw Russia support Transnistria’s independence.
Moscow has maintained a strong military presence in the territory since 1992.
Many of Transnistria’s political leaders have long voiced their intent for the region to become a part of Russia.
But it still remains internationally recognised as part of Moldova – a country that seeks closer co-operation with the EU.
Transnistria has a population of around 465,000.
Fears of a war between the West and Russia over Transnistria have been amplified by the separatist region’s leader Vadim Krasnoselsky.
He told the Russian TASS news agency: “A war in Transnistria would mean a direct conflict between Russia and NATO.
“I don’t have the slightest doubt about it. Everything is closely intertwined here.
“Both Romania, a NATO member, and the Russian Federation have interests here.”
Recean added that the 10,000-troop figure was based on intelligence assessments.
“Currently, their forces there are almost meaningless,” he said.
“But with a higher military presence in Transnistria that a Russia-leaning government can allow for, they can consolidate.”
Moldova was part of the Soviet Union before its collapse in 1991.
In recent years, it has sought to pursue closer ties with the European Union, and became an official candidate to join the EU in 2022.
A referendum held last year committing Moldova on its path to EU membership passed by just 0.7% of the vote amid what was widely believed to be a Russian interference campaign.
Recean told the FT that Russia spent the equivalent of 1% of Moldova’s GDP on influence campaigns in 2024.
AFPA billboard reading “Russia in our hearts” sits on the side of a road in the town of Tiraspol, the capital of Transnistria[/caption]
EPARussian servicemen riding atop a self-propelled gun at an area in the Kursk region, Russia[/caption]
Every month sees the closure of more locations, as the first round saw 47 go under across nine states.
The second batch encompassed 68 stores across seven states, such as in California, Virginia and Oregon.
A third wave then took out 151 more locations , brining the total number in Rite Aid‘s second bankruptcy to 361.
Full listof Rite Aid locations closed in May
California
3860 Sepulveda Boulevard – Torrance
5075 Olivehurst Avenue – Olivehurst
211 East 17th St. – Costa Mesa
1038 East Colorado Blvd. – Pasadena
6150 Van Buren Blvd. – Riverside
220 West East Ave. – Chico
4774 West Ln. – Stockton
4920 La Sierra Ave. – Riverside
1331 Wilshire Blvd. – Santa Monica
446 East Washington Blvd. – Los Angeles
23 Peninsula Center – Rolling Hills Estates
3300 East Anaheim St. – Long Beach
1203 West Imola Ave. – Napa
1550 Hamilton Ave. – San Jose
501 South Gaffey St. – San Pedro
4840 Niagara Ave. – San Diego
1534 East Florence Ave. – Los Angeles
32450 Clinton Keith Rd. – Wildomar
720 Sutton Way – Grass Valley
34420 Yucaipa Blvd. – Yucaipa
2751 Del Paso Rd. – Sacramento
Connecticut
180 Main St. – Cheshire
113-115 Mill Plain Rd. – Danbury
56 Rubber Ave. – Naugatuck
Massachusetts
1031 Main St. – Clinton
New Hampshire
360 Summer Street – Bristol
41 Carroll Street – Pittsfield
75 Portsmouth Ave., Unit 1 – Exeter
19 Wilton Rd., Suite 1a – Peterborough
354 Winchester St. – Keene
New Jersey
75 South Main St. – Neptune
403 Sicklerville Rd. – Sicklerville
New York
9 Broad Street – Salamanca
1070 Genesee Street – Buffalo
5901 Bay Pkwy.– Brooklyn
8222 18th Ave. – Brooklyn
55-60 Myrtle Ave. – Ridgewood
50-15 Roosevelt Ave. – Woodside
60-26 Woodside Ave, – Woodside
Oregon
728 South West 4th Avenue – Ontario
4041 Nw Logan Road – Lincoln City
2049 West Cascade Avenue – Hood River
178 West Ellendale Avenue – Dallas
1217 Campbell Street – Baker City
44 Michigan Avenue Ne – Bandon
313 South Roosevelt Drive – Seaside
626 Mcclaine St – Silverton
1400 West 6th St. – The Dalles
514 Ne 181st Ave. – Portland
2521 South Sixth St. – Klamath Falls
700 S.E. 3rd St. – Bend
Pennsylvania
805 Huntingdon Pike – Huntingdon Valley
6 Bochicchio Boulevard – Moscow
601 Delaware Avenue – Palmerton
315 West Fourth Street – Quarryville
2201 West Alleghenny Ave. – Philadelphia
10 Newport Plaza – Newport
801 Grow Avenue – Montrose
2503-05 Welsh Road – Philadelphia
5 Friendly Drive – Duncannon
260 West Lehigh Avenue #80 – Philadelphia
3145 Main Street – Morgantown
205 Center Street – Tamaqua
9635 William Penn Highway – Huntingdon
15 West Centre Street – Mahanoy City
4530 North 5th Street – Philadelphia
101 East Shirley Street – Mt Union
4390 Richmond Street – Philadelphia
5201 Spring Road Suite 6 – Shermans Dale
1365 Logan Avenue – Tyrone
1212 Second Street – Cresson
201 West Mahoning Street – Punxsutawney
165 Butler Road – Kittanning
126 W. Main Street – Grove City
111 North Plaza – Apollo
5214-30 Baltimore Avenue – Philadelphia
1941 Derry Street – Harrisburg
5400 Rising Sun Avenue – Philadelphia
901 S Saint Marys Street – Saint Marys
200 Resort Plaza Drive – Blairsville
630 Main St. – Portage
207 Route 6 West – Coudersport
838 Fifth Avenue – Ford City
620 E Allegheny Avenue – Emporium
100 South Third Street – Conneaut Lake
200 Memorial Blvd. – Connellsville
59 North Main Street – Port Allegany
610 Broad Street – New Bethlehem
1340 Main Street – Burgettstown
100 Franklin Street – Mercer
1222 Brownsville Rd – Pittsburgh
521 North Fraley Street – Kane
3939 Butler Street – Pittsburgh
1 East High Street – Union City
2150 Brownsville Rd Ste120 – Pittsburgh
304 Market St. – Harrisburg
23 North Elm St. – Kutztown
3773 Peters Mountain Rd. – Halifax
1039 2nd St. – Pike Richboro
843 Rostraver Rd. – Belle Vernon
400 West Second St. – Berwick
Pittsburgh Intl Airport – Pittsburgh
209 Atwood St. – Pittsburgh
Virginia
115 Brunswick Square Court – Lawrenceville
144 Scottsville Center – Scottsville
4171 Lee Jackson Hwy, Ste 113 – Greenville
200 Augusta Avenue – Grottoes
Washington
35013 Snoqualmie Pkwy – Snoqualmie
27000 Miller Bay Rd Ne, Kingston
909 East Yelm Avenue, Yelm
*517 Commercial Ave., Anacortes
608 W. Stanley Street, Granite Falls
609 Omache Drive, Omak
250 Basin St. SW – Ephrata
248 Bendigo Blvd S – North Bend
Rite Aid has yet to announce exact details regarding the closure timeline.
Rite Aid CEO Matt Schroeder said in a news release: “As we move forward, our key priorities are ensuring uninterrupted pharmacy services for our customers and preserving jobs for as many associates as possible.
“For more than 60 years, Rite Aid has been a proud provider of pharmacy services and products to our loyal customers.
“While we have continued to face financial challenges, intensified by the rapidly evolving retail and healthcare landscapes in which we operate, we are encouraged by meaningful interest from a number of potential national and regional strategic acquirors.
“As we move forward, our key priorities are ensuring uninterrupted pharmacy services for our customers and preserving jobs for as many associates as possible.
“I will be forever grateful to our thousands of associates for their commitment to Rite Aid and its mission, and I thank our entire team – from store associates to corporate employees – for their dedication to our customers and our company.
“With their support, we have played a critical role in supporting the healthcare needs of countless Americans across the communities that we are honored to serve.”
Rite Aid’s slow fall into bankruptcy has left it struggling to stay afloat while axing hundreds of locations in the processGETTY
2 weeks agoUSA UpdateComments Off on Social Security employees warn massive delays coming as bosses make 4 changes – and millions of checks may be stopped
SOCIAL Security workers have warned that huge delays over at the SSA could soon impact Americans, potentially impacting millions of payments.
Turmoil is taking root at the federal agency as four big changes roll out, including one particularly disruptive switch-up.
GettyMajor changes are underway at the Social Security Administration[/caption]
GettyFour big Social Security changes could mean delayed or stopped payments for beneficiaries[/caption]
SSA workers at processing centers typically prioritize new claims and appeals each day, but these routine tasks are now being put on the back burner.
Staff at a handful of the country’s eight processing centers were instructed late last month to prioritizeSocial Security Fairness Actpaymentsover other daily tasks.
Before leaving office, former President Joe Biden signed the Social Security Fairness Act into law on January 5, eliminating the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset.
These two provisions reduced Social Security benefits for Americans who also received pensions from public employment not covered by Social Security.
Thanks to the Social Security Fairness Act, millions of public sector workers will now receive larger Social Security checks and some may qualify for benefits for the first time – but the law also entails a greater workload for SSA staff.
While the administration originally set out to process over 3.2 million Fairness Act claims by November, new Social Security commissioner Frank Bisignano is speeding up that timeline.
He has instructed Social Security staff to focus on processing those payments, aiming to get the work done “while the weather is warm,” Bisignano told senators during his March confirmation hearing.
“Using automation, SSA has already expedited over $15.1 billion in long-delayed retroactive payments to more than 2.3 million individuals affected,” White House spokesperson Liz Huston said.
The complexity of the remaining roughly 900,000 cases requires that they be manually updated.
The SSA is now prioritizing these cases, with Bisignano targeting a July 1 completion date, several Social Security employees told USA Today.
Social Security employees have even been offered weekend overtime to complete the remaining Fairness Act claims on time.
HOW WILL YOU BE IMPACTED?
As SSA staff scramble to complete their new top priority task, the White House has said that the additional work will not impact other Social Security recipients.
“This project is very important to leadership and it’s critical the agency executes it swiftly, efficiently, and without letting anything else fall through the cracks,” said Huston.
Social Security employees, on the other hand, have warned that millions of Americans could be impacted.
WEP and GPO
The Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset, federal laws that have been in place for nearly 40 years, were officially eliminated when the Social Security Fairness Act was passed.
Windfall Elimination Provision:
Impacts pension recipients who also work another job covered by Social Security
The Social Security benefit is usually reduced by around 50%, but it cannot be reduced to zero
Government Pension Offset:
Impacts pension recipients who also qualify for spousal Social Security benefits
Reduces two-thirds of the PSRS benefit, typically eliminating the entire spousal Social Security benefit
Making an address or bank account change may take much longer than usual, for example, and many beneficiaries could experience delays or even stopped benefits, Social Security employees told USA Today.
Several of the typical tasks that may be cast aside, such as switching direct deposit details or fixing issues with Medicaid billing, could mean the difference between receiving a check or not, according to the workers.
Because over 71 million Americans rely on Medicaid, any widespread disruption to these processes could affect a significant portion of beneficiaries – potentially causing delays or interruptions for millions.
Some SSA customer service workers have even been instructed to only assist callers if they need help with a Social Security Fairness Act case, new claim, or appeal, “until our workload focus is lifted.”
The administration receives roughly 400,000 calls each day, but those needing help with “non-priority” issues – such as overpayment assistance, updating direct deposit information, checking on monthly payment rates, and Medicare billing related issues – may be turned away.
SOCIAL SECURITY SWITCH-UPS
Beyond the upheaval at the SSA caused by the new Social Security Fairness Act, three other major changes are impacting Americans.
For example, mass layoffs and buyout offers are shaving down the number of Social Security staff, potentially exacerbating delay issues at the SSA.
HOW TO SUPPLEMENT YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY
Here's how to supplement your Social Security:
Given the uncertainty surrounding Social Security’s long-term future, it’s essential for workers to consider ways to supplement their retirement income.
Senior Citizens League executive director, Shannon Benton recommends starting early with savings and investing in retirement accounts like 401(k)s or IRAs.
401(k) Plans
A 401(k) is a retirement account offered through employers, where contributions are tax-deferred.
Many employers also match employee contributions, typically between 2% and 4% of salary, making it a valuable tool for building retirement savings.
Maxing out your 401(k) contributions, especially if your employer offers a match, should be a priority.
IRAs
An Individual Retirement Account (IRA) offers another avenue for retirement savings.
Unlike a 401(k), an IRA isn’t tied to your employer, giving you more flexibility in your investment choices.
Contributions to traditional IRAs are tax-deductible, and the funds grow tax-free until they are withdrawn, at which point they are taxed as income.
Another big change pertains to identity verification procedures, with the SSA looking to reduce Social Security fraud by requiring Americans to visit a local office if unable use their online account for certain services.
This new requirement, effective April 14, could potentially cause delays or issues for those without the necessary documentation, facing language barriers, or those with mobility issues.
Technological barriers may also prove problematic for certain beneficiaries, such as those without reliable internet access, computer literacy, or the necessary technology.
The SSA has also made a handful of changes to its tech systems that have resulted in several website failures, sparking fear among the millions of Americans who rely on their Social Security benefits.
The series of changes has resulted in increased wait times for phone assistance as well as a lengthier wait to schedule an in-person appointment at a field office.
Check out these other changes underway at Social Security.
Social Security payments are handed out on the second, third, and fourth Wednesday of each month. Benefits will be paid out in 2025 on the following dates:
2 weeks agoUSA UpdateComments Off on Driverless taxis taking on eerie ‘human-like behaviors’ as they wreak havoc on roads – ‘impatient’ move gave it away
DRIVERLESS taxis are taking on strange, human-like behaviors on the road in what is possibly an increased display of intelligence.
The new findings have been discovered in the popular Waymo cars that operate in Phoenix, Arizona, as well as San Francisco and Los Angeles, California.
GettyIt’s believed the AI-powered vehicles are starting to show an increased display of intelligence[/caption]
GettyDrivers taxis have been found to take on strange, human-like behaviors on the road – including impatience[/caption]
GettyWaymo prices itself on being safer than a regular, human driver thanks to its cautious approach to driving[/caption]
According to the Daily Mail, the study was first conducted by the University of San Francisco engineering Professor William Riggs and a reporter with the San Francisco Chronicle, after the pair noticed that a Waymo car they were traveling in crept to a rolling start at a pedestrian crossing – before the person in the road had reached the other footpath.
For the AI powered Waymo car, which prides itself on being safer than a regular, human driver thanks to its cautious approach to driving, the movement was somewhat peculiar – almost mimicking the way humans act behind the wheel in the same scenario.
In this instance, letting the foot gently off the brake and allowing the car to run at a rolling pace displays human-like impatience.
Rigg said: “From an evolutionary standpoint, you’re seeing a lot more anticipation and assertiveness from the vehicles.”
Waymo taxis – which are designed to gather information about road conditions, allowing for its algorithm to be fine-tuned – have been known to strictly follow the rules of the road, often much to the frustration of other motorists.
David Margines, the director of product management at Waymo, said human specialists who drive the cars to train them had to juggle two separate goals: to ensure that Waymo followed every traffic law, and, simultaneously, work to transport customers to a reasonable timeframe.
He said: “We imagined that it might be kind of a trade-off.
“It wasn’t that at all. Being an assertive driver means that you’re more predictable, that you blend into the environment, that you do things that you expect other humans on the road to do.”
In one of these examples, Waymo showcased its autonomous capabilities when one of its robotaxis stopped to avoid a collision with a car that swerved into its path.
However, it then honked its horn in a human-like manner – almost as if to express annoyance.
And while these behaviors demonstrate intelligence, they also raise concerns – especially in regards to mimicking poor human driving decisions.
Despite promoting safety, Waymo has been involved in 696 crashes since 2021, although the brand’s taxis have not necessarily always been at fault.
In one incident, a Waymo vehicle tragically struck and killed a small, off-leash dog – but only because the car’s tech failed to detect it.
Despite these incidents and concerns, Waymo is expanding – with the cars to soon arrive in Austin, Texas; Atlanta, Georgia; and Miami, Florida.
Meanwhile, Tesla is planning to launch its own robotaxis in Austin, powered by its Full Self-Driving (FSD) program.
But the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is currently investigating Tesla’s FSD software after concerns were raised on its performance.
This include a request for more information on how it works.
Tesla is aiming to produce an autonomous model aptly named the Cybercab next year, with the company’s CEO, Elon Musk, predicting millions of fully autonomous Teslas will be launched by late next year.
The NHTSA’s investigation could delay the robotaxi rollout though, especially if Tesla fails to meet its June 19 deadline for providing a response.
Apple CarPlay vs Android Auto
Both are phone mirroring apps for both operating systems that allow drivers to access contacts, make calls, and use navigation apps.
Many manufacturers allow access to both apps wirelessly, and all infotainment systems mirror your phone with a USB connection.
The idea behind phone mirroring apps designed for in-car use is to reduce distracted driving by making essential apps easier to access.
Key features of both apps are:
Audiobook app access
Podcast app access
Navigational access (Google or Apple maps, which have your personal information already implemented, like your home address, work address, recent searches, and more).
Phone apps, with contacts, favorites, recent calls, and more preprogrammed.
Messaging apps that can read text messages aloud and transcribe a response through the vehicle’s microphone.
Music apps like Spotify, Pandora, Apple Music (iTunes), or others with your personal information, playlists, recent searches, and preferences built in.
Calendar events, your car can alert you to an upcoming event or conference.
Access to Google Assistant or Siri with vocal cues.
2 weeks agoUSA UpdateComments Off on Diddy accused of ‘drugging and raping TV reporter on tour bus’ as she demands rapper be extradited to face ‘punishment’
A REPORTER has accused Sean “Diddy” Combs of drugging and raping her after she tried to get an interview in the midst of his sex trafficking trial.
Kathi Steininger claimed she was set to tell her dark story on the stand, but broke her anonymity after she was dismissed.
Pulse24Austrian reporter Kathi Steininger has accused Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs of raping her when she tried to get an interview[/caption]
GettyCombs, seen at the 2022 Billboard awards, allegedly attacked the accuser when she was just 19[/caption]
Combs, 55, is accused of hiring prostitutes as perverse entertainment for his so-called “freak offs,” which were sex parties that had a roster of high-profile guests.
In that suit, she accused her ex-lover of raping and beating her, as well as forcing her to take part in the sometimes days-long freak-offs.
After the lawsuit was filed and settled out of court, dozens of alleged victims came forward with legal complaints of their own, where they described harrowing brushes with the rapper.
Now, Steininger, who is an Austrian national, has claimed in an interview that she was also targeted by the mega producer when she was just 19 years old.
In March 2000, the budding journalist scored an on-camera interview with Combs during his European tour, she told Austrian broadcaster PULS 24 on Monday.
But at some point during the chat, she claims she was separated from her cameraman and given a drink by Combs, which she believes was drugged.
The next thing she knew, the then-teenager was allegedly on the back of a tour bus being raped by the musician. She said she felt too out of it to move or cry for help.
“There was 100 percent something in it,” she said of the drink.
“I would never have gone to bed with that man.”
After the alleged attack, she said she felt too “ashamed” to tell anyone.
Steininger claimed she was going to take the stand as part of Combs’ ongoing trial, but said her story was out of the statute of limitations because she and Diddy were overseas.
After getting that news, she chose to break her anonymity and join the growing chorus of women and men urging for justice.
The accuser claimed the alleged attack left her with post-traumatic stress disorder and that she was unable to work.
Five: The number of charges against Combs. His charge sheet includes one count of racketeering conspiracy, two charges of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. Combs has pleaded not guilty to the alleged offenses.
Twelve: The number of jurors. Six alternates will also be selected.
Two: In March 2024, two of Combs’ homes were raided by the feds. Cops searched a property in Holmby Hills, Los Angeles, that was linked to his production company. Agents also searched a property in Miami, Florida. Cops were pictured carrying boxes from the disgraced star’s Star Island mansion. In September 2024, Combs listed the Los Angeles home for $61.5 million.
1,000: The number of bottles of baby oil and lubricant seized by cops during the raids of the hip-hop star’s homes. The supplies are alleged to be linked to the star’s infamous drug-fueled freak offs.
Eight: The number of weeks the trial is expected to last.
Eight: The number of lawyers on the prosecution team. Seven of which are women.
Seven: The number of lawyers on Combs’ defense team. Brian Steel, who represented the rapper Young Thug, is part of the defense team.
Four: The number of accusers who will take the stand. Combs’ ex-partner Cassie Ventura, who accused him of sexual abuse and assault, is the prosecution’s star witness. Combs and Ventura had an on-off relationship for over a decade. Ventura and Combs settled for $20 million a day after the lawsuit was filed.
15: Combs faces a minimum sentence of 15 years if he’s convicted on the sex trafficking charge.
10: Ten years is the maximum charge for the transportation for the purposes of prostitution.
She’s reached out to prosecutors in Austria to pursue charges, but because the alleged attack was so long ago, it’s also considered outside the statute of limitations.
However, she claims that state attorneys told her they would reexamine the case based on the results of Combs’ sex trafficking trial.
“I want some kind of punishment for what he did to me,” she said.
The U.S. Sun has reached out to Combs’ lawyers for comment.
Comb’s trial has continued into its third week with explosive testimony from an ex-hotel worker who claims the rapper gave him a wad of hush money.
The security guard said he watched in horror after surveillance captured Combs beating up girlfriend Cassie as he wore nothing but a towel.
Diddy locked eyes with us as he entered the courtroom - inside the trial of the decade
The federal sex trafficking trial of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs began with jury selection on May 5.
Combs is standing trial at the Southern District of New York Courthouse in Lower Manhattan – an intimidating federal courthouse where the cases of Ghislaine Maxwell, Donald Trump, and Bernard Madoff, among others, were tried.
Once a powerful founder of a music and business empire, Combs has been reduced to a defendant, inmate 37452-054, stripped of his mogul status, and now standing trial on five federal charges with the full wrath of the United States government against him.
When I attended Day 3 of jury selection at the federal courthouse on May 7, the buzz around the start of the trial was palpable.
Hours before the courthouse opened its doors, more than a dozen reporters and members of the public stood in line in hopes of securing a seat in the gallery for the high-profile trial.
As you walk through the glass door entrance of the Daniel Patrick Moynihan Courthouse, you are met by bulletproof vest-clad court officers.
All visitors must separate their electronic devices from their personal belongings, which are passed through a metal detector.
Visitors walk through a metal detector before a court officer hands them a poker chip.
The courthouse uses a poker chip system to sort the number of electronic devices visitors are in possession of.
Electronic devices, such as Bluetooth-powered headphones, voice recorders, laptops, cellphones, and smart watches, are confiscated before you’re allowed to enter the courthouse’s main hallway.
As about a half-dozen reporters and I waited in the gallery for jury selection, we witnessed how Combs entered the courtroom shackle-free.
Combs entered with his hands pressed together, greeted his defense team before he examined the gallery, and locked eyes with reporters and potential jurors.
The 55-year-old disgraced Bad Boy Records executive was attentive and engaged with his counsel as they grilled dozens of potential jurors.
As jury selection wrapped up for the day, Combs embraced each of his female defense attorneys before he mouthed “thank you” to a handful of supporters in the gallery.
I attended trial again as opening statements got underway on May 12 and the world media waited anxiously outside the federal courthouse before the sun rose in Lower Manhattan.
A line stretched down the block from the federal courthouse as some members of the media and from the public camped out overnight to try to obtain a coveted seat inside the gallery.
At least three overflow rooms were made available for reporters and the public, who are eager to witness the prosecutions case against the music mogul.
At least half a dozen members of Combs’ family arrived at the courthouse as spectators filed in single order to enter the federal building to turn over all their electronic devices.
Combs’ trial is being held on the 26th floor in Judge Arun Subramanian’s courtroom and is expected to last for eight weeks.
2 weeks agoUSA UpdateComments Off on Ex-wife of ‘killer’ dad Travis Decker reveals red flags as he picked up daughters before ‘zip-tying & murdering 3 girls’
THE mom of three young girls who were found murdered at a campground revealed details of the last time she saw them with their alleged killer.
Travis Decker, 32, was quieter than usual when he picked up his three daughters from his ex-wife on Friday, she told police.
FacebookTravis Decker, 32, is on the run after allegedly killing his three daughters during a custody visit[/caption]
GoFundMeOlivia Decker, 5, was found with her sisters at a campground on Monday[/caption]
Whitney Decker said her ex-husband was quieter than usual when he picked up the girls for their visit on FridayFacebook/Whitney Decker
Hours later, the girls were reported missing when Decker didn’t return Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia Decker, 5, to Whitney Decker after the scheduled visitation.
After a four-day search, the three siblings were found murdered on Monday at a remote campsite about 20 miles northwest of where they lived with their mom in Wenatchee, Washington.
Police believe the girls died from asphyxiation and reported that each girl was found with a plastic bag over her head and with their wrists zip-tied, court documents said.
Decker is still on the loose after cops found his white truck abandoned with bloody handprints on the tailgate about 75 to 100 yards away from where the girls’ bodies were found.
Before the devastating crime scene was discovered, the girls’ mom told cops that Decker’s mental health had been declining and that he was struggling financially.
Decker was reportedly “quieter than usual” when picking up his daughters for the planned visit on Friday, which she noted was “out of character” for him, court documents said.
The former military member also spoke about getting rid of his dog due to financial struggles caused by child support and a traffic ticket.
Despite the warning signs of his mental instability, Whitney said the handover went over with no issues until he didn’t drop them off hours later.
After the three-hour visit was over, Whitney said Decker didn’t call her to let her know he was running late, which was out of the ordinary for him.
Her calls to his cell phone went straight to voicemail.
She then called the police and reported her daughters missing at around 9:45 pm.
Whitney told detectives that Decker had never done this before and is “currently experiencing some mental health issues.”
When Decker didn’t go to work on Monday, court documents said his boss noted some recent mental health concerns.
Decker was homeless at the time and often sleeping at motels and campgrounds, Whitney reported.
Whitney and Decker had been divorced since 2022 after being married for seven years.
In September, they set a parenting plan in place so Decker could see the three girls every other weekend.
Court documents show Whitney claimed Decker was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and didn’t take medication for it, despite treatment being part of the parenting plan.
“Travis has really struggled since he left the military and his mental health can be hard sometimes,” Whitney told Seattle CBS affiliate KIRO on Monday before the girls’ bodies were found.
“I think this is an effect of that, and I don’t personally think that he’s dangerous.”
She added, “I think that he is impulsive and he loves his children very much.”
Whitney told cops that the girls have a “good relationship with Decker and enjoy their time with him,” the affidavit said.
In a declaration filed in September, Whitney wrote that her ex-husband’s instability was affecting their daughters, according to the Seattle Times.
She wrote that the girls would scream or cry when getting dropped off for their visits with him.
The girls would sometimes be forced to sleep at the armory while Decker was in the National Guard, despite their mom’s objections.
She said Decker sometimes had “outbursts” and would come into her home yelling for the girls.
Whitney recalled one instance where Olivia called her mom crying during a visit and said she couldn’t find her dad.
Evelyn came home with welts between her legs after that visit, the declaration said.
“I do not want to keep Travis from the girls at all. To the contrary I have bent over backwards to facilitate that relationship,” Whitney wrote in the filing.
“But I cannot have our girls staying in what is essentially a homeless shelter, at times unsupervised, with dozens of strange men, or staying in a tent or living in his truck with him both in extreme temperatures and unknown areas for their safety.”
More to follow… For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos.
2 weeks agoUSA UpdateComments Off on Beloved snacks will look different under new law – but it’s all down to where you buy the treats
SOME of America’s most popular snacks will be slapped with a warning label under a new law.
And it doesn’t only apply to food – shoppers will notice the new note on a variety of products in stores.
GettyShoppers will notice a big change at supermarkets under a new law (stock image)[/caption]
A bill on Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s desk would require eye-catching new messages on food and drink packaging.
The Lone Star State’s Senate Bill 25 passed unanimously and is awaiting the governor’s signature after landing on his desk on June 1.
If signed into law, it could shake up food packaging across the country.
That’s because manufacturers typically don’t want to produce different versions of the same product for each state, experts say.
Instead, companies often change their labels nationwide to comply with the strictest rules.
Under SB 25, products with certain additives would be required to display a clear warning that some ingredients are “not recommended for human consumption” in other countries.
The bill targets 44 ingredients that are still legal in the US but have been flagged or banned in countries such as Australia, Canada, the UK, and the European Union, USA TODAY reported.
Products would need to include the following warning: “WARNING: This product contains an ingredient that is not recommended for human consumption by the appropriate authority in Australia, Canada, the European Union, or the United Kingdom.”
That language would have to appear clearly on both packaging and websites where the products are sold.
RESTAURANTS EXEMPTED
The bill exempts restaurants, drugs, dietary supplements, and products already regulated by the FDA.
The label would only apply to items meant for human consumption sold in stores, not food served in restaurants or produce treated with pesticides.
Chips, candy, cookies, soft drinks, cereals and frozen meals could all be hit with the warning if the law passes.
Fan favorites like Doritos, Ruffles, M&Ms, Oreos, Capri Sun and Mountain Dew contain at least one of the flagged ingredients.
Other impacted items could include Froot Loops, Cap’n Crunch, Hot Pockets, Twinkies, Sour Patch Kids and flavored Lay’s chips.
Even processed meats like sausages and hot dogs could fall under the rule.
Food and drinks affected by the new law
Products with warning labels:
Food dyes: Red 40, Yellow 5 & 6, Blue 1 & 2, Green 3
Many are banned or restricted in Australia, Canada, the UK, or EU.
Warning label would read: “Not recommended for human consumption” per foreign authorities.
Items likely to be affected:
Chips: Doritos, Ruffles, Lay’s flavored varieties
Candy: M&Ms, Skittles, Sour Patch Kids
Cookies & Cakes: Oreos, Chips Ahoy!, Twinkies, Hostess snacks
Cereals: Froot Loops, Cap’n Crunch
Drinks: Mountain Dew, Gatorade, Capri Sun, Hawaiian Punch, Juicy Juice
Frozen Foods: Microwavable popcorn, frozen dinners, Hot Pockets
Processed Meats: Sausages, hot dogs
Breads: Those made with bleached or bromated flour
Products using bleached flour, food dyes, sweeteners, certain oils and preservatives are among those affected.
Some of the additives named include Red 40, Yellow 6, titanium dioxide, olestra, bromated flour and synthetic trans fats.
Representative Lacey Hull, a Republican lawmaker in Texas, said Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. personally called her to support the bill.
The measure lines up with his “Make America Healthy Again” initiative, she told Bloomberg.
“Secretary Kennedy encourages states to promote healthy practices and enhance consumer transparency in food labeling,” HHS spokesperson Emily G. Hilliard told USA TODAY.
“Americans deserve to know what’s in their food so they can make informed choices for themselves and their families.”
But not everyone is on board.
John Hewitt blasted the proposal as misleading and costly.
“The ingredients used in the US food supply are safe and have been rigorously studied following an objective science and risk-based evaluation process,” Hewitt said.
“The labeling requirements of SB 25 mandate inaccurate warning language, create legal risks for brands and drive consumer confusion and higher costs.”
Governor Abbott has not said whether he will sign the bill.
His press secretary, Andre Mahaleris, said on June 3: “Governor Abbott will continue to work with the legislature to ensure Texans have access to healthy foods to care for themselves and their families and will thoughtfully review any legislation they send to his desk.”
If signed into law, the new labels would appear starting in 2027.
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