Cornell University has appointed former U.S. Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates to lead an independent review of the school's handling of sexual assault reports. This decision follows a surge of anger on campus regarding allegations made by a former student who claims she was raped by multiple men at a fraternity house in 2024. The accused individuals have denied any wrongdoing. Yates, who served as deputy attorney general under President Obama in 2015, has extensive experience in the Justice Department.
In a separate case, lawyers for Christa Pike, an inmate in Tennessee, reported that she is awake and speaking after surviving a botched execution attempt last week. They described her recovery as medically unprecedented, although her prognosis remains unclear. Pike was sentenced to death for the 1995 murder of classmate Colleen Slemmer, and following her failed execution, Tennessee's governor has paused further executions for the year and ordered an investigation into the state's capital punishment system.
President Trump is facing bipartisan criticism for comments made at a campaign rally, where he suggested that Iran could "take out" two cities in California. California's Democratic lawmakers condemned the remarks, while Republican congressional candidate Jim Desmond expressed his disagreement, stating that no American city is expendable. The White House responded by clarifying that Trump was misunderstood and was emphasizing that the war is preventing Iran from acquiring such capabilities.
In business news, Paramount has finalized a multibillion-dollar deal for Warner Bros. Discovery, creating a new entity called Skydance, which will include HBO Max and CNN alongside CBS and Paramount+. Incoming CEO David Ellison described the merger as historic, although critics have raised concerns about potential job losses and reduced consumer options.
The Emmy Awards will move from broadcast television to Amazon's Prime Video starting in 2027, marking a significant shift as the ceremony has traditionally rotated among broadcast networks since the 1950s. Amazon has stated that the show will be available for free without requiring a Prime membership.
In scientific achievements, the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physics has been awarded to Francis Halzen for his development of a telescope designed to detect high-energy neutrinos, which may provide insights into the universe's evolution. Halzen, now a professor at the University of Wisconsin Madison, conceptualized the South Pole observatory in the 1980s, with operations commencing in 2011.
On Wall Street, stocks rose, with the Dow Jones industrial average increasing by approximately 250 points, the Nasdaq rising nearly half a percent, and the S&P 500 reaching a new all-time high.
Additionally, three notable figures have passed away: actress Eva Marie Saint, known for her role in "North by Northwest," died at the age of 102; R&B singer Freddie Jackson, recognized for his romantic ballads, also passed away; and Jim Bakker, the television evangelist who faced legal troubles in the past, died at 86. Bakker's second wife announced his death on social media.