Dior’s sporty elegance and urban grit hits Paris Fashion Week
PARIS (AP) — Maria Grazia Chiuri’s Dior collection took a sporty turn, blending athletic prowess with an urban menace. The Paris show’s stripped-down designs evoked a ’60s sci-fi aesthetic, reminiscent of Star Trek, but with an edge—daring, asymmetrical shapes paired with knee-high boots that flirted with danger. As a live archer launched arrows into a target mid-show, VIPs such as Natalie Portman and French First Lady Brigitte Macron erupted in applause. The performance was a nod to the themes of strength and athleticism that have been central to Chiuri’s collection, inspired in part by the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Woman alleges Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs raped her on video in latest lawsuit
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Another woman is suing Sean “Diddy” Combs, alleging that the music mogul and his head of security raped her at his New York recording studio in 2001. Thalia Graves filed the lawsuit in federal court in New York Tuesday. She’s the latest of several people to file similar lawsuits against Combs, who was jailed on a federal sex trafficking indictment a week ago. Graves alleges that her rape was recorded on video. Combs has pleaded not guilty to the criminal allegations and his attorney says he is innocent. His representatives did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment on the latest lawsuit.
Jury awards teen pop group OMG Girlz $71.5 million in battle with toy maker over “L.O.L.” dolls
NEW YORK (AP) — A federal jury has determined toy maker MGA Entertainment must pay $71.5 million in damages for infringing on the name and likeliness of teen pop group OMG Girlz with one of its popular lines of dolls. This week’s verdict hands a win to OMG Girlz — as well as Xscape singer Tameka “Tiny” Harris and rapper Chris “T.I.” Harris — in the third court trial related to a yearslong intellectual property battle with the California company. Among a web of back-and-forth claims, MGA’s “L.O.L. Surprise! O.M.G.” dolls have been accused of having a name and style that is far too similar to that of the all-female band. Comparisons were drawn between seemingly lookalike clothing.
Video game actors’ union calls for strike against ‘League of Legends’
LOS ANGELES (AP) — “League of Legends” is caught in the middle of a dispute between Hollywood’s actors union and an audio company that provides voiceover services for the blockbuster online multiplayer game. The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists called a strike against “League of Legends” on Tuesday, arguing that Formosa Interactive attempted to get around the ongoing video game strike by hiring non-union actors to work on an unrelated title.
Department of Justice sues Visa, alleges the card issuer monopolizes debit card markets
NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. Justice Department has filed an antitrust lawsuit against Visa, alleging that the financial services behemoth uses its size and dominance to stifle competition in the debit card market. The complaint filed Tuesday says Visa penalizes merchants and banks who don’t use Visa’s own payment processing technology to process debit transactions, even though alternatives exist. It’s the latest in a recent spate of lawsuits brought by the Biden administration targeting alleged monopolistic practices. It also has sued big technology companies like Google and companies that act like middlemen such as Ticketmaster and RealPage.
Retired NFL quarterback Brett Favre says he has Parkinson’s disease
WASHINGTON (AP) — Retired NFL quarterback Brett Favre told a congressional committee Tuesday that he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Favre made the announcement as part of his testimony about a welfare misspending scandal in Mississippi. Favre does not face criminal charges, but he has repaid just over $1 million in speaking fees funded by a welfare program in the state. He was also an investor a biotech company with ties to the case that said it was developing concussion drugs. It is unclear if Favre’s disease is connected to his football career or head injuries.
Trump mixes up the name of Charlottesville, Virginia, during his speech in Georgia
WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump has flubbed the name of Charlottesville, Virginia, while going off script during a speech otherwise focused on economic policy, slamming Vice President Kamala Harris for lying about “Charlottestown.” The former president was talking on Tuesday about imposing tariffs and other steps he’d take to bolster U.S. manufacturing during a campaign stop in Savannah, Georgia, when he veered off topic. Trump began arguing that he won the recent debate with Harris, despite GOP claims the moderators were against him. “She didn’t say anything except lies, like bloodbath, like Charlottestown,” Trump said. He didn’t acknowledge the error.
A snowmobiler who crashed into a parked Black Hawk helicopter is awarded $3 million
BOSTON (AP) — A federal judge has ruled that the government is liable for a nighttime collision involving a snowmobiler who crashed into a parked Black Hawk helicopter in Massachusetts and awarded him $3.3 million in damages. Jeff Smith nearly died after the March 2019 crash. He was demanding $9.5 million in damages from the government to cover his medical expenses and lost wages, as well as to hold the military responsible for the crash. U.S. District Judge Mark Mastroianni blamed both parties for the crash in his ruling Monday. But he said the government was 60% responsible for parking the helicopter on a snowmobile trail.
Marley Brothers upholds father’s legacy with first tour in 2 decades
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Bob Marley’s musical legacy of harmony and peace has hit the road with his sons bringing their late father’s timeless message to life in a multi-city tour. The reggae giant’s footsteps are being filled by his five sons — Ziggy, Stephen, Julian, Ky-Mani and Damian — during the Marley Brothers: The Legacy Tour. It’s the first time the siblings have performed together on a tour in two decades. Marley’s sons are honoring his work, performing about 30 of their father’s songs including massive hits like “No Woman, No Cry,” “Could You Be Loved” and “Is This Love.” The 22-date tour kicked off in Vancouver and will conclude early October in Miami.
Man smashes Ai Weiwei sculpture at exhibition opening in Italy
ROME (AP) — A man has smashed a sculpture by Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei during the private opening of his exhibition in the northern Italian city of Bologna. The show’s curator said Tuesday it was a “reckless and senseless act.” The large blue and white “Porcelain Cube” was part of the exhibition “Who am I?” inaugurated at Bologna’s Palazzo Fava on Saturday. Italian media reported that local police arrested a 57-year-old Czech man, who said he was an artist. He was known for targeting important works of art in the past. It is still unclear how the man gained access to Friday’s invitation-only event, but the museum said the exhibition opened to the public as planned on Saturday.