📰 News Roundup: The Kickoff

Start the week informed. Today’s roundup covers world news, tragedy, shocking and crime stories, along with odd and weird headlines, celebrity and entertainment updates, and health insights shaping conversations. Here are the defining stories.

Man, Wrongfully Jailed for 40 Years Tastes Freedom for Minutes Before ICE Detains Him

Key Points

• Subramanyam "Subu" Vedam was released after 43 years for a vacated murder conviction.

• He was immediately taken into federal immigration custody by ICE.

• Vedam, an Indian national, faced immediate detention despite his conviction being overturned.

What happened? 

Subramanyam "Subu" Vedam, who is from India, has been released from a Pennsylvania state prison after serving 43 years of a murder sentence that has since been vacated. While, it's unfortunate that his first taste of freedom would last only a few hours, it came to an end when he was first held by officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) immediately upon his release from prison because he is not a U.S. citizen. ICE took Vedam into federal immigration custody because of his vacated conviction, which allows for further immigration detention regardless of his exoneration. This example illustrates how the U.S. immigration system allows for the detention of noncitizens immediately following release from state prison, even if their criminal conviction is dismissed, which creates another legal and personal barrier to starting a new life after being wrongfully convicted.

Source: WJAC TV

Lostprophets Singer Ian Watkins Dies After Prison Attack

Key Points

• Ian Watkins, the former Lostprophets frontman, was stabbed to death in a UK prison.

• Watkins was serving a 29-year sentence for child sex offenses.

• Two men, aged 25 and 43, were arrested on suspicion of murder.

What happened? 

Ian Watkins, the disgraced former lead singer of the Welsh rock band Lostprophets, was killed in a prison in northern England. The 48 year old was found with serious injuries after an assault at HMP Wakefield, a high security prison, and was pronounced dead at the scene. He was attacked with a knife by another inmate. Watkins had been serving a 29 year sentence for a string of serious child sex offenses to which he pleaded guilty in 2013. Authorities confirmed that two men, who are fellow inmates at the prison, were arrested on suspicion of murder as a result of the fatal stabbing.

Source: The Associated Press

Melbourne Man Becomes a Father Again at 93

Key Points

• Melbourne doctor John Levin, 93, welcomed a baby boy 18 months ago.

• He is considered "Australia's oldest dad" and had the baby with his much younger wife, Dr. Yanying Lu.

• The couple used IVF and donor sperm to have their son, Gabby, and are reportedly considering a second child.

What happened? 

Dr. John Levin, a 93-year-old doctor from Melbourne, has become one of Australia’s oldest known fathers. He and his wife, Dr. Yanying Lu, who is more than 50 years his junior, welcomed their son, Gabby, 18 months ago through IVF using donor sperm. Dr. Levin, a specialist in anti-aging, has three other adult children from his first marriage, and this new addition to his family has captured public attention. He maintains an active lifestyle and an anti-aging regimen, with a personal goal of living to see his son turn 21. The couple are reportedly discussing expanding their family further, possibly trying for a little girl, showing that Dr. Levin is still full of energy and hope for the future.

Source: The Nightly

Man, Who Killed 6-Year-Old Arrested Again

Key Points

• Ronald Exantus, who killed 6-year-old Logan Tipton, was released early from his 20-year sentence.

• Exantus was found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity but was convicted of other assault charges.

• He was arrested in Florida near an elementary school for failing to register as a felon.

What happened? 

Ronald Exantus, who was found not guilty of the 2015 murder of six-year-old Logan Tipton in Kentucky by reason of insanity, but convicted of other charges, was recently arrested in Florida. Exantus was released early on mandatory reentry supervision after serving only seven years of a 20-year sentence for stabbing Logan’s sisters and father. His early release, due to state law, caused outrage in the community. He was arrested by Marion County Sheriff's deputies for failing to register as a felon in Florida, as required for his supervised release. Authorities noted that he was living near an elementary school, and lawmakers in Kentucky are now working to change the law that allowed for his early release.

Source: WHAS11

Crypto Mogul, 32, Found Dead Inside Lamborghini

Key Points

• Ukrainian crypto trader Konstantin Galish (Kostya Kudo), 32, was found dead in his Lamborghini in Kyiv.

• His death is being investigated as a possible suicide, with a registered gun found nearby.

• The death occurred amidst a major cryptocurrency market crash, with Galish reportedly losing a large number of investors' funds.

What happened?

Konstantin Galish, a 32-year-old Ukrainian crypto trader and co-founder of the Cryptology Key trading academy, was found dead in his Lamborghini Urus in Kyiv. Authorities are investigating his death as a possible suicide, noting that he had a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and a registered firearm was found next to his body. The incident followed a significant global cryptocurrency market crash, during which Galish was reported to have lost tens of millions of dollars of investors' money. Police stated that Galish had informed relatives that he was feeling depressed due to financial difficulties and had sent them a farewell message the day before his body was found.

Coinbase Launches American Express-Backed Credit Card Offering Up to 4% in Bitcoin Rewards

Key Points

• Coinbase launched the Coinbase One Card, a credit card powered by American Express.

• The card offers users up to 4% rewards back, specifically in Bitcoin.

• It is available exclusively to Coinbase One subscriber, who pay a membership fee for various perks.

What happened? 

Coinbase, a major cryptocurrency exchange, announced the launch of its new credit card, the Coinbase One Card, which is powered by the American Express network. The card is offered exclusively to Coinbase One member, a subscription service that provides benefits like zero transaction fees and priority support. Its main feature is the ability for users to earn up to 4% back in Bitcoin rewards on every purchase, with the reward rate being proportional to the amount of digital assets a customer holds on Coinbase. This initiative aims to bridge the gap between traditional finance and cryptocurrency by allowing everyday spending to contribute to a user's digital asset portfolio.

Source: The Block

That’s all I’ve got for today.

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