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Ex-officer who pleaded guilty on Tyre Nichols: 'He was helpless'
"I wanted some kind of revenge. I was seeing red," one of the former Memphis, Tennessee, officers who pleaded guilty to charges connected to the death of Tyre Nichols said on the witness stand Monday evening. The federal trial of three former Memphis police officers charged in connection with the January 2023 beating death of Nichols continued Tuesday morning after prosecutors called ex-officer Emmitt Martin III to the stand, according to WATN-TV, the ABC affiliate in Memphis covering the case in the courtroom. Martin, whose nickname on the force was "Full Can" for what prosecutors said was his use of pepper spray against suspects, started Tuesday's testimony by watching the footage from the night of Nichols' stop, WATN reported. "They were assaulting him," Martin said of his former partners. "I was already angry that he ran. I kicked him ... They [his former partners] were holding him up. He was helpless."
Man, au pair charged in double murder of wife, man months apart
A grand jury has indicted 39-year-old Brendan Banfield in the stabbing death of his wife and murder of another man in the couple's bedroom 19 months after the killing, according to Virginia's Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney Office. Banfield is accused of fatally stabbing 37-year-old Christine Banfield and shooting Joseph Ryan, 38, in February 2023. Banfield's charging in the case comes months after the family's 24-year-old live-in au pair was charged in the case. "We know Brendan Banfield and Juliana Magalhaes, the family au pair, were involved in a romantic relationship at the time of the murders," Fairfax Police Chief Kevin Davis said at a press conference Monday.
Federal Reserve expected to cut interest rates for first time since 2020
The Federal Reserve is set to make a pivotal decision about its benchmark interest rate on Wednesday that could dial back its years-long fight against inflation. Investors widely expect the Fed to cut interest rates for the first time since 2020, delivering long-sought relief for consumers saddled by high borrowing costs for everything from credit cards to mortgages. "The time has come for policy to adjust," Fed Chair Jerome Powell said last month at an annual gathering in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. "The direction of travel is clear." Inflation has slowed dramatically from a peak of about 9% in 2022, though it remains slightly higher than the Fed's target of 2%.
Trump's new crypto venture is light on details, heavy on potential ethics landmines
After once deriding cryptocurrency as a "scam," former President Donald Trump on Monday formally threw his support behind World Liberty Financial, a crypto venture whose business model remains largely unclear but has already drawn scrutiny as a potential ethics headache for his administration if he returns to the White House in January. Joined Monday by his two adult sons and others involved in the fledgling business, including billionaire donor Steve Witkoff, Trump declared in a livestream on X that "crypto is one of those things we have to do," and suggested that he would work to limit regulation of the industry if elected. "Right now, you have a very hostile [Security and Exchange Commission] ... they've been very hostile toward crypto," Trump said. "My attitude is different." Details about the venture, including Trump's role and potential compensation, remain unclear. The company's website, which bears an image of a backlit Trump speaking at a podium, suggests the platform will have its own crypto token, called $WL, and aspires to "empower our users to operate their finances ... with no direct oversight of any government agencies or officials."
Gas prices are plummeting. Experts explain why.
Drivers have enjoyed a sharp decline in gasoline prices over recent weeks -- and the good times are expected to continue. Gas prices have plummeted about 13% from a 2024 peak in April, which amounts to a decline of nearly 50 cents per gallon, according to AAA data shared with ABC News. The national average price of a gallon of gas stands at $3.20, AAA data shows. In 16 states, an average gallon of gas costs less than $3, including Texas Georgia, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Kansas and Iowa. Speaking to ABC News, some experts forecasted that the national average price would likely follow suit, dropping below $3 per gallon for the first time since May 2021.
Taco Bell moves National Taco Day to Tuesday
For anyone who marks their calendars timed to food celebrations, Taco Bell has a new date for you to highlight in October that aligns perfectly with a delicious day of the week -- Taco Tuesday. The California-based fast food chain announced Tuesday that this year, National Taco Day will fall on Oct. 1, three days earlier than in previous years, to ensure the food festivity aligns with the beloved weekly tradition of Taco Tuesday. The permanent date change to the first Tuesday of October was set in motion by the fast food chain with the help of the National Day Calendar, the authoritative entity that curates national days, weeks, months and other tentpole events. "For years, we've celebrated National Taco Day on October 4th, but it's always felt like there was a bigger opportunity to align it with something even more special -- Taco Tuesday," Marlo Anderson, founder of National Day Calendar, said in a press release. "Thanks to Taco Bell's efforts, we're excited to officially move National Taco Day to the first Tuesday in October, creating the Taco Tuesday of all Taco Tuesdays."
Nine dead, thousands injured after pagers explode across Lebanon: Health officials
At least nine people are dead and over 2,750 people were injured after pager devices owned by a large number of workers in various Hezbollah units and institutions exploded on Tuesday, according to Lebanese officials and the group. Hezbollah blamed Israel for the attack and vowed it would respond. The apparent attack comes amid rising tensions between Israel and Hezbollah. "We hold the Israeli enemy fully responsible for this criminal aggression, which also targeted civilians and led to the deaths of a number of martyrs and the injury of a large number with various wounds," Hezbollah said in a statement. "This treacherous and criminal enemy will certainly receive his just punishment for this sinful aggression, whether he expects it or not." The dead and injured included people who are not members of Hezbollah, such as a 10-year-old girl killed in the eastern village of Saraain, according to Hezbollah-owned Al-Ahed News. Two Hezbollah members were also dead, the outlet reported.
Appeals court upholds sex crimes conviction of Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell
A federal appeals court in New York on Tuesday upheld the sex crimes conviction of Ghislaine Maxwell, the longtime associated of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Ghislaine, in March, asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit to overturn her conviction and 20-year prison sentence for recruiting and grooming the underage girls who Epstein sexually abused, arguing she was immunized by an agreement federal prosecutors in Florida arranged with Epstein in 2007. On Tuesday, the appeals court ruled that Maxwell was not covered by Epstein’s non-prosecution agreement and said the alleged crimes fell within the statute of limitations. Maxwell's attorneys had argued that she was made a "proxy" for Epstein, who died by suicide in prison while awaiting trial, to "satisfy public outrage" about his conduct.
Sean 'Diddy' Combs hit with sex trafficking, racketeering charges in sprawling indictment
Sean "Diddy" Combs has been charged with sex trafficking by force, transportation to engage in prostitution and racketeering conspiracy, alleging he ran an "enterprise that he engaged in sex trafficking, forced labor or, kidnapping, arson and other crimes," according to the indictment unsealed on Tuesday. Federal prosecutors said Combs "abused, threatened, and coerced women and others around him to fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation, and conceal his conduct." The allegations mirror 11 civil complaints filed against him since 2023. Combs, with help from Combs Enterprise associates, is accused of transporting commercial sex workers across state lines and internationally, the indictment said. Combs allegedly "manipulated women to participate in highly orchestrated performances of sexual activity with male commercial sex workers," the indictment said, and he allegedly coerced the women into participating by giving them drugs, "controlling their careers, leveraging his financial support and threatening to cut off the same, and using intimidation and violence."
Secret Service agents 'exemplary' during Trump assassination attempt, friend says
Steve Witkoff -- a friend of, and donor to, former President Donald Trump -- told ABC News' Good Morning America on Tuesday that Secret Service agents protecting the Republican presidential nominee during Sunday's apparent assassination attempt did "exactly what they're supposed to do." Witkoff was with the former president at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, when Secret Service agents fired several shots at would-be gunman Ryan Wesley Routh, who was allegedly concealed in a tree line 300 to 500 yards from the Republican presidential nominee. "We were having a great day," Witkoff said of the incident, during which Secret Service agents rushed Trump to a safe location. He added that, after hearing the first shot, "I saw the Secret Service do exactly what they're supposed to do, which was get right on top of the president." There were “a whole bunch” of agents on top of Trump, Witkoff said.
Instagram introduces mandatory 'Teen Accounts' with built-in limits, parental controls
For the first time in its history, Instagram on Tuesday announced the launch of accounts designed specifically for teenage users with built-in privacy protections. The new accounts, called "Teen Accounts," will be automatic for all Instagram users under the age of 18, both for teens already using the app and for those signing up. By default, Instagram users younger than 16 will need a parent's permission to change their account settings. The changes -- expected to impact tens of millions of users -- were announced by Instagram head Adam Mosseri in a live interview on ABC News' Good Morning America.
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