Five former members of Canada's 2018 World Junior Ice Hockey team—Michael McLeod, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube, Carter Hart, and Cal Foote—were found not guilty of sexual assault on Thursday. Judge Maria Carroccia stated she did not find the complainant's allegations "credible or reliable." The complainant's lawyer, Karen Bellehumeur, expressed her client's disappointment with the verdict and the judge's assessment of her credibility. The alleged incident occurred at a hotel in London, Ontario, in 2018, following a team celebration. The judge accepted the defendants' claim that the complainant was a willing participant, stating the complainant failed to establish the encounter was "vitiated by fear" and noting inconsistencies in her recollection.

The case, which saw two previous juries dismissed before a single judge rendered the verdict, sparked debate about sexual assault culture within Canadian hockey and the treatment of alleged victims within the justice system. The judge's decision was met with gasps in the courtroom. David Humphrey, lawyer for Michael McLeod, described the decision as a "resounding vindication." The CEO and board of directors of Hockey Canada resigned in October 2022 amid scrutiny of the case and an out-of-court settlement with the accuser.

Impact Statement: The verdict concludes a high-profile case that significantly impacted the Canadian hockey community and fueled discussions about sexual assault allegations and the justice system's handling of such cases.

Jay Slater, 19, from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, died from head injuries consistent with a fall from a height in Tenerife on July 15, 2024. His body was found in a ravine near Masca after he went missing on June 17, 2024, following a night out involving alcohol and drugs. The inquest heard that Mr. Slater had walked approximately 14 hours home to his apartment from an Airbnb where he had spent the night with two men he'd met in a nightclub, after becoming separated from friends and failing to secure a taxi or bus due to lack of funds and payment requirements. Several witnesses testified, including his friends Bradley Geoghegan and Lucy Law, who spoke to him on the phone in the hours before he disappeared. Toxicology reports confirmed the presence of cocaine, ketamine, and ecstasy in his system.

Home Office pathologist Dr. Richard Shepherd concluded that there was no evidence of assault or restraint. Detective Chief Inspector Rachel Higson of Lancashire Constabulary presented phone data indicating Slater’s movements and communications before his death. Witness Ayub Qassim, who hosted Mr. Slater at his Airbnb, stated there was no altercation and described Mr. Slater's departure in the morning. The coroner, Dr. James Adeley, adjourned the inquest to Friday.

Impact Statement: The inquest concluded the death was accidental, attributing it to a fall from a height while under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

Justice Maria Carroccia of the Ontario court found the accuser in a sexual assault case against five Canadian hockey players, Carter Hart, Michael McLeod, Dillon Dubé, Alex Formenton, and Cal Foote, to be "neither credible nor reliable." The judge stated the government did not prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt, dismissing the case against the five members of Canada's 2018 World Junior ice hockey team. The alleged incident occurred on June 19, 2018, in a London, Ontario hotel room following a Hockey Canada gala. The accuser, identified as "EM," alleged that after consensual sex with McLeod, he invited other players to join without her consent while she was intoxicated. The defence argued EM was consenting throughout the night, pointing to consent videos recorded by McLeod.

The trial garnered significant attention due to the high profile of the accused players, Hockey Canada's admission of secret funds used to settle sexual assault claims, and the ensuing debate surrounding consent in Canadian law. The judge's ruling emphasized that the court's role was to determine legal proof, not moral judgment. Dozens of protesters gathered outside the courthouse expressing their belief in the accuser.

Impact Statement: The ruling has significant implications for the ongoing discussion surrounding sexual assault, consent, and the handling of such cases within the Canadian justice system and sports institutions.

An Antonov An-24 passenger plane crashed near Tynda, Russia, on Thursday, resulting in the death of all 48 passengers and crew members. The plane, operated by Angara Airlines, was en route from Blagoveshchensk to Tynda when it crashed approximately 15 kilometers south of its destination. The burning wreckage was found on a hillside. The aircraft, built in 1976, had reportedly undergone pre-flight inspection without issue. Initial rescue efforts were hampered by difficult terrain and bad weather.

Among the victims were 42 passengers, including five children, and six crew members. At least one Chinese citizen was on board. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping have both expressed condolences. Russian authorities have launched an investigation into the airline. Media reports suggest rough weather may have contributed to the crash.

Impact Statement: The crash highlights ongoing concerns about the safety of Russia's aging aviation fleet, potentially exacerbated by sanctions.

Harshvardhan Jain, 47, was arrested by Uttar Pradesh state police for allegedly operating a fraudulent embassy near New Delhi. Jain, posing as an ambassador to unrecognized micronations such as "Seborga" and "Westarctica," defrauded individuals by promising overseas employment and contracts leveraging his purported diplomatic influence. His operation, run from a luxurious rented property, included fake diplomatic license plates on luxury cars and a collection of forged documents, photographs with world leaders, counterfeit passports, and fake seals from the Indian Foreign Ministry and the fictitious nations.

Police seized approximately 4.5 million Indian rupees ($52,095) and other foreign currencies during a raid of the property. Jain faces charges of forgery, impersonation, possessing fake documents, and potentially money laundering through shell companies abroad.

Impact Statement: The arrest highlights the vulnerability of individuals to sophisticated scams and the potential for exploitation through the impersonation of diplomatic officials.

A 47-year-old man, Harshvardhan Jain, has been arrested by Indian authorities for operating a fake embassy from a luxurious property near New Delhi. Jain, who claimed to be an ambassador or advisor for micronations like "Seborga" and "Westarctica," defrauded individuals by promising overseas employment opportunities. Police seized approximately 4.5 million Indian rupees ($52,095) in cash, foreign currencies, counterfeit passports, and fake seals belonging to India's Foreign Ministry and fictitious nations from the property.

Jain, who has a background in business and hails from a wealthy family, allegedly used doctored photos with world leaders and luxury cars with fake diplomatic license plates to enhance his credibility. He is suspected of money laundering through shell companies abroad and faces charges of forgery, impersonation, and possessing fake documents. A previous arrest in 2011 for possessing an illegal satellite phone is also noted in reports.

Impact Statement: This incident highlights vulnerabilities in systems designed to prevent fraud and underscores the potential for sophisticated impersonation schemes to exploit individuals seeking employment opportunities.

A mother and her two children were killed in a suspected triple murder-suicide in Maguiresbridge, County Fermanagh. Police identified the victims as Vanessa Whyte (45), a veterinary surgeon, and her children, James (14) and Sara (13) Rutledge. They died from gunshot wounds at their Drummeer Road home on Wednesday. A man, a member of the same household, is hospitalized in Belfast with serious injuries.

Police are investigating the incident as a possible triple murder and attempted suicide. Statements from Enniskillen Royal Grammar School, where James and Sara were students, and local officials expressed profound grief and offered condolences. The police have appealed for anyone with information to come forward.

Impact Statement: The incident has deeply affected the close-knit community of Maguiresbridge, prompting an outpouring of grief and support for the family and the wider community. The investigation is ongoing.

An Angara Airlines Antonov An-24 passenger plane crashed approximately 15 kilometers from Tynda, Russia, on Thursday. The plane, carrying 49 passengers, was traveling from Blagoveshchensk to Tynda. The wreckage has been located, but Russian authorities have reported no signs of survivors.

Difficult terrain is reportedly hindering rescue efforts. The Antonov An-24 is one of the oldest passenger planes still in operation.

Impact Statement: The crash is expected to result in a significant loss of life.

An Angara Airlines An-24 plane, carrying 43 passengers and six crew members, including five children, crashed approximately 16km from its destination, Tynda airport, in Russia's far-eastern Amur region. The plane disappeared from radar while approaching the airport after departing from Blagoveshchensk, near the Chinese border. The aircraft was on the final leg of a route from Khabarovsk.

Amur's regional governor, Vasily Orlov, reported that all available resources were deployed in the search. A Russian civil aviation helicopter subsequently located burning fuselage, leading to the discovery of the wreckage on a hillside near Tynda. Rescue teams were immediately dispatched to the crash site.

Impact Statement: The crash will likely lead to a full investigation into the cause of the accident and could impact air travel safety regulations in the region.

Debris from a Russian An-24 passenger plane operated by Angara Airlines has been discovered in Russia's far east. The plane disappeared from radar while approaching Tynda, Amur region, a town bordering China. Initial reports suggest approximately 43 passengers and 6 crew members were aboard; however, the exact number remains uncertain, with the emergencies ministry citing a figure closer to 40. Five children were among the passengers.

Regional Governor Vasily Orlov reported that search and rescue operations are underway.

Impact Statement: The crash is expected to lead to a full investigation into the cause of the accident and likely result in increased scrutiny of Angara Airlines' safety protocols.

An Antonov An-24 passenger plane, operated by Angara Airlines, disappeared from radar while approaching Tynda, Amur region, Russia. The plane was en route from Khabarovsk via Blagoveshchensk. According to regional governor Vasily Orlov, preliminary reports indicate 43 passengers, including five children, and six crew members were onboard. The emergencies ministry reported a slightly lower number of people on board.

All available resources have been deployed to locate the missing aircraft. Emergency services confirmed a failure to complete security checks near Tynda before contact was lost.

Impact Statement: The disappearance of the plane has triggered a large-scale search and rescue operation. The incident could have significant implications for air safety regulations and airline operations in the region.

Lauren Pisciotta, 36, filed a lawsuit against Kanye West (Ye) in June 2024, initially alleging sexual harassment, breach of contract, and wrongful termination. An amended lawsuit filed July 10, 2025, includes claims of sex trafficking, stalking, assault, and rape. Pisciotta's lawyer, Arick Fudali, states she is in hiding due to fear and has significantly reduced her online presence. West denies the allegations, calling them "fantasy fiction."

The civil case is set to return to court next month. Pisciotta's amended complaint also details alleged "swatting" incidents orchestrated by West six days after the initial lawsuit, resulting in police raids at her Florida property. She further alleges receiving threatening phone calls warning her against pursuing the lawsuit. The lawsuit includes detailed accounts of alleged repeated sexual assaults and harassment during her employment with West, including an incident involving an alleged rape. It also alleges West engaged in racist and antisemitic behavior in the workplace.

Fudali points to West's social media posts as potential evidence supporting Pisciotta's claims, while West's team denies the allegations and calls the lawsuit "fantasy fiction." The case is expected to proceed to trial next month.

Impact Statement: The case highlights the challenges faced by victims of sexual assault, particularly those who are high-profile figures or in positions of power. The ongoing legal battle and its public nature may further impact the reputation of Kanye West and the Yeezy brand.

At least 10 firefighters and rescue workers died, and 14 others were injured, while battling a wildfire in Turkey's northwestern Eskisehir province on Wednesday. Five forestry workers and five rescuers perished when a sudden shift in wind direction engulfed their group. The victims were swiftly transported to a hospital, but 10 succumbed to their injuries. Agriculture and Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli confirmed the deaths and ongoing treatment for the injured. He also warned of continued extreme heat and volatile wind conditions expected on Thursday.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed condolences and praised the victims' sacrifice. Two prosecutors have been assigned to investigate the incident. These deaths bring the total wildfire fatalities in Turkey this year to 13. Earlier this month, an elderly man and two forestry workers died in a separate wildfire near Odemis in Izmir province.

Impact Statement: The incident highlights the significant risks faced by firefighters combating wildfires, particularly under extreme weather conditions. The investigation will likely focus on the circumstances that led to the firefighters becoming trapped.

Five former Canadian World Junior ice hockey players—Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube, Cal Foote, Alex Formenton, and Carter Hart—will learn their fate on Thursday following a trial concerning a 2018 sexual assault in London, Ontario. The complainant, known as EM, alleges the players engaged in non-consensual sexual acts with her after a consensual encounter with McLeod escalated. The defence maintains EM consented to all sexual activity. The trial, originally heard by a jury, was ultimately decided by Justice Maria Carroccia alone after a mistrial and jury dismissal due to alleged misconduct by defence lawyers. The case has prompted a wider discussion about consent in Canada and the culture within Hockey Canada, which faced significant scrutiny and lost sponsors following a quiet settlement with EM in 2022.

The trial included graphic testimony, text messages suggesting a coordinated effort to manage the aftermath of the incident, and videos showing EM seemingly consenting afterward, which she explained as a coping mechanism. The Crown argued the focus is not whether EM removed herself from the situation, but if she consented to each act. The defence countered that EM’s actions implied consent. The players, all of whom had NHL contracts at the time of the allegations, have been on leave from their respective teams and their contracts have since expired. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has stated he will not comment on their potential return to the league until the judicial process is complete.

Impact Statement: The verdict will have significant implications for the accused players, Hockey Canada, and the ongoing national conversation surrounding consent and sexual assault in Canada. The case's legal interpretation of consent may also impact future cases.

Doctor Salvador Plasencia pleaded guilty to four counts of illegally distributing ketamine to Matthew Perry, the actor known for his role in Friends, in the period leading up to Perry's October 28, 2023 death. Plasencia entered his plea on Wednesday in a Los Angeles federal court before Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett as part of a plea deal, dropping other charges in exchange. His lawyer, Debra White, stated Plasencia is "profoundly remorseful" and will voluntarily surrender his medical license. Plasencia admitted to providing Perry with ketamine, including 20 vials totaling 100 milligrams, in the month before his death, and acknowledged administering one injection and observing a blood pressure spike. Prosecutors stated Plasencia did not supply the fatal dose.

An autopsy report attributed Perry's death to the acute effects of ketamine, also noting contributing factors such as coronary artery disease and long-term drug use. Perry had been legally prescribed ketamine for depression but sought additional supplies outside legal channels. Plasencia is the fourth defendant to plead guilty in the case; a fifth, Jasveen Sangha, accused of providing the fatal dose, has pleaded not guilty and faces trial in August. Court filings revealed text messages indicating Plasencia profited $4,500 from ketamine sales to Perry.

Impact Statement: This guilty plea is a significant development in the ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding Matthew Perry's death.

Dr. Salvador Plasencia pleaded guilty on Wednesday in US District Court, Los Angeles, to providing actor Matthew Perry with ketamine in the weeks before Perry's death. Plasencia faces up to 40 years in prison. He is the fourth of five defendants to plead guilty in connection with Perry's 2023 death. A postmortem examination determined that Perry died from acute ketamine effects, a substance he was taking as part of supervised therapy. Jasveen Sangha, a fifth defendant alleged to have supplied the fatal dose and known as the "ketamine queen," has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled for trial in August. Plasencia's lawyers stated he is accepting responsibility and intends to surrender his medical license.

Plasencia did not provide the fatal dose, but his actions contributed to Perry's overdose. Perry had publicly discussed his history of substance abuse.

Impact Statement: This guilty plea highlights the dangers of unregulated prescription drug distribution and its impact on individuals with substance abuse issues.

Following protests outside The Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, on July 17th, Essex Police categorically denied allegations that they transported pro-refugee demonstrators to the site. The protests, which involved clashes between pro- and anti-refugee groups, resulted in eight police officers and two hotel staff members being injured. Ten arrests have been made, and four men have been charged with violent disorder, with one also facing charges of criminal damage and another for refusing to remove a face covering. The protests, attracting over 1,000 people across multiple days, followed the charging of an asylum seeker, Hadush Kebatu (41), with sexual offences, which he denies.

Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington condemned the violence and urged against the spread of misinformation, while acknowledging peaceful participation. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage called for the chief constable's resignation over accusations of police misconduct. Similar protests have also taken place at the Britannia International Hotel in London's Canary Wharf following its designation as asylum accommodation.

Impact Statement: The incident highlights rising tensions surrounding asylum seeker housing and the challenges faced by law enforcement in managing opposing protests.