📰 News Roundup: The Wrap

End the week with a sharp briefing. Explore world affairs, tragedies, shocking news, crime reports, odd and weird stories, celebrity buzz, entertainment trends, and important health findings shaping headlines. Here are the defining stories.

Man, Who Spent 38 Years in Prison for a Crime He Didn’t Commit Is Awarded $25 Million

Key Points

• A man was wrongfully imprisoned for 38 years.

• DNA evidence later proved his innocence.

• He was awarded $25 million in compensation.

What happened?
Maurice Hastings spent nearly four decades in prison after being wrongly convicted of murder in 1983. He was finally freed when DNA tests proved he was not the attacker and that another man was responsible. In 2023 a judge declared him “factually innocent.” The city of Inglewood agreed to pay him $25 million, one of the largest wrongful conviction settlements in California history. The money is meant to help compensate for the years he lost, although it cannot replace the time taken from him.

Source: AP News

Elon Musk Was Scheduled to Visit Jeffrey Epstein’s “Pedo Island” in 2014

Key Points

• Epstein’s records listed Musk in 2014.

• It referred to his private island in the Virgin Islands.

• Musk denies ever going there.

What happened?
Recently released documents from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate revealed his personal calendars. A December 6, 2014 entry said “Elon Musk to island,” pointing to Epstein’s infamous Little St. James property. The schedules suggest a planned visit but do not prove that Musk actually went. Musk has denied any connection, saying he never visited and had no relationship with Epstein. The revelation adds to ongoing scrutiny over Epstein’s social and business ties with high-profile figures.

Source: Reuters

SEC Charges Tai Lopez and Partners in $112 Million Ponzi Fraud Scheme

Key Points

• The SEC charged Tai Lopez and others.

• They allegedly ran a Ponzi scheme through Retail Ecommerce Ventures.

• About $112 million was involved.

What happened?
The SEC has accused Tai Lopez and his business associates of running a massive Ponzi-style fraud scheme. The company they operated, Retail Ecommerce Ventures, touted, among other things, that it was providing its investors with strong returns, and that it was going to use investors' funds to grow significant retail brands and make them famous. The allegation is that most of the money was instead used to pay back earlier investors or was misappropriated for personal use. The ponzi scheme is said to have raised roughly $112 million from 2019 to 2022. The SEC is seeking disgorgement and other penalties, while Lopez and his business associates may face significant legal challenges from the court.

Source: CBS News

President Trump Signs Executive Order to Transfer TikTok to US Owners

Key Points

• Trump signed an executive order affecting TikTok.

• The order requires U.S. control of the app.

• It targets ByteDance’s ownership.

What happened?
President Donald Trump issued an executive order demanding TikTok be moved into U.S. ownership. The reason given was concern that TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, could share user data with the Chinese government. The order pushes for a divestment so that American companies manage the app. This step fits into the broader U.S. effort to reduce foreign influence over apps that handle sensitive data. Critics call it politically motivated, while supporters say it is a needed move to protect national security.

Source: OSV News

Sacha Baron Cohen, 53, Moves on From Isla Fisher Divorce With 27-Year-Old OnlyFans Model

Key Points

• Reports link Cohen to a younger model.

• It comes after his split with Isla Fisher.

• The story is based on celebrity media reports.

What happened?
Entertainment outlets have reported that actor Sacha Baron Cohen, aged 53, has moved on from his marriage to actress Isla Fisher. Stories claim he is now seeing a 27-year-old model who shares content on OnlyFans. These reports appear mainly in celebrity gossip media and are not confirmed by Cohen or Fisher. Without direct confirmation, the accuracy of these claims remains uncertain. Such stories should be treated carefully, as they rely heavily on anonymous sources and speculation.

Source: Yahoo

Former FBI Director James Comey Has Been Indicted

Key Points

• Comey faces two felony charges.

• They involve false statements and obstruction.

• This is the first indictment of a former FBI director.

What happened?
James Comey, the former FBI director, was indicted by a federal grand jury on two felony charges: making false statements to Congress and obstructing a congressional proceeding. The charges are tied to his 2020 testimony regarding FBI leaks and political investigations. Critics see the case as politically motivated, while supporters say it shows accountability for misleading lawmakers. Comey has denied all wrongdoing, saying he is innocent and will defend himself in court. The case is already stirring major political debate.

Source: AP News

That’s all I’ve got for today.

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