Latest news with #Cassie
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Woolworths rolls out major payment change across stores – here's a list of new locations
Thousands of Aussies may soon notice a new feature in their local Woolworths stores, as the supermarket giant's latest piece of technology is rolled out to dozens more stores. Shoppers in Caloundra, on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, noticed the Scan&Go trolleys had arrived this week, becoming one of just 18 stores in Australia so far with the new tech. Customers use their Everyday Rewards card to sign into a 'device' – an iPad sized touch screen – that connects to the front of the trolleys. The devices have a built-in scanner, so shoppers can scan and pack their groceries as they go. Sunshine Coast mum Cassie, the popular blogger behind the My Family Eats social accounts, was surprised to see the new trolleys at her local store in Caloundra and immediately wanted to try it out. "I thought it was super convenient. Easy to use, easy to navigate," Cassie told Yahoo News. "I liked that it was giving me a running total as I was shopping, because I think if you're somebody that's on a budget, that's so handy, so you're not having any bill shock once you get to the checkout." It is the first time the technology has been rolled out in Queensland. Yahoo understands Woolworths has been installing the new trolley devices at additional stores in recent days. In total 24 more stores will get the smart trolleys by the end of the month. They include: Queensland: Burleigh Heads, Capalaba Park, Currimundi, Nambour, Noosa, Northlakes and Warner. Victoria: Chirnside Park, Malvern, Mornington East, Rye, St Helena, Thrift Park and Moonee Ponds (however in September). NSW: On top of the 10 locations to already have the trolleys, they will also launch this month in Neutral Bay Village, Richmond, Menai, Mortdale, Revesby, Hornsby, Rutherford, Kotara, Green Hills and Erina throughout the month. Managing Director for Woolworths360, Rob McCartney said the initial roll out to ten stores across NSW led to feedback from customers about enjoying a faster and more convenient shopping experience. "We have noticed that over seventy percent of Scan&Go Trolley users are repeat customers, which supports our expansion into Victoria and Queensland respectively. To add, young families in particular have told us Scan&Go Trolley is helping them balance their budget, as they can track their spending in real time," he said in a statement Thursday. While some agreed it was a handy budgeting tool, others saw the new trolleys as a loss of another human interaction. 'I feel like I am paying more and more and then on top of that I feel like I am working for them as well,' one viewer wrote in the comments to the Queensland mum's video. 'Love a chat at checkout.' 'I'd rather a connection with a human checking out my shopping,' another woman agreed. Despite the common complaint, Woolworths insists the feedback has been "overwhelmingly positive" from customers who enjoy a faster checkout experience with the Scan&Go trolleys. After using the technology, Cassie said there's room for both people who want to use a regular checkout and for those wanting to do it all themselves. "You can have that personal interaction at the checkout, or if you want to have a bit more control over your shop and know exactly how much it is and have that running total... I think it's giving consumers the best of both worlds," she said. "This is potentially catering for other people who don't feel comfortable having those kinds of interactions as well. And I had quite a few people who work in social work and things like that, saying that this is going to be great for them assisting with their clients with disabilities and things like that." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cassie - Recipes/fashion/budgeting/organisation/renos/parenting. (@my_familyeats) Two weeks ago, Woolworths discontinued the previous Scan&Go mobile technology at 38 stores around Australia. It was originally introduced in 2018, and allowed customers to use their mobile phones to scan items themselves. While the technology will still remain in 45 stores, the payment options will be changing. Instead of paying directly through the app, shoppers will have to pay at a Scan&Go checkout. 🍌 Woolworths shopper's checkout meltdown over 'free' fruit: 'Don't have food at home' 🚗 Mysterious find in Woolworths car park wall sparks Aussie dad's rescue mission 🥩 Woolworths beef recall sparks cost-of-living backlash in NZ: 'I still fed it to my kids' "We've received feedback from some of our customers that using a mobile device to scan products whilst holding a basket and other items can be challenging," a Woolworths spokesperson told Yahoo. "As a result we have looked to streamline the process by incorporating the Scan&Go mobile technology into our new Scan&Go trolleys, to provide a hands free Scan&Go option." Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Black America Web
07-07-2025
- Black America Web
What Is The Mann Act? Understanding Diddy's ‘Guilty' Verdict
Source: ANGELA WEISS / Getty The sex trafficking trial against Sean 'Diddy' Combs captivated audiences for weeks. A jury ultimately rendered a verdict acquitting the disgraced mogul of the most serious charges and found him guilty on two counts of violating the Mann Act. Diddy is an icon, but the Bad Boy Records founder has a mixed reputation. His contributions to music and the culture have earned him love and praise, but there have always been whispers of his abuse across the industry. It wasn't until video of him assaulting then-girlfriend Cassie at the Intercontinental Hotel gave credence to the rumors. His mask had been torn away, and the monster underneath unveiled through hours of harrowing testimonies. While the jury didn't find him guilty of racketeering and conspiracy, aka RICO, Cassie's brave testimony paved the way for him to be found accountable through the Mann Act. The United States passed The Mann Act into law in 1910. James Robert Mann authored the law. Mann was an Illinois congressman with deep concerns about what he considered immoral behavior infiltrating the fabric of the nation, especially via the corruption of White women. Legislators called it the 'White-Slave traffic Act' previously. It represented moral panics that followed the loosening of social restrictions following the Industrial Revolution. According to archives from the U.S. Department of Justice, this law currently 'prohibits transporting any individual in interstate or foreign commerce for the purpose of engaging in prostitution or other sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense, and related crimes.' In 1910, the act had a broader definition. It stated women could not be transported across state lines 'for the purpose of prostitution or debauchery, or for any other immoral purpose.' Citizens criticized for its broadness, prompting amendments. Lawmakers updated the definition in the 1980s. They repealed the highly subjective phrase 'immoral purpose.' The jury in the Diddy trial heard from several self-professed sex workers. They described traveling to engage in the 'freakoffs' that were at the center of the trial. The Mann Act carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine. The government prosecuted several other Black celebrities and other high-profile figures under the Mann Act. R. Kelly received Mann Act charges. Jurors convicted him of several counts of violating the Mann Act in 2021. Kelly attempted to have his convictions overturned on appeal recently. He was denied. The government used the law to prosecute the rock musician Chuck Berry and Jack Johnson, the first Black man to become a heavyweight boxing champion. Johnson was convicted in 1912, shortly after the law was enacted, despite the 'prostitute' in question being his white girlfriend who would later become his wife. Berry's 1960 arrest was fictionalized in the 2008 film Cadillac Records . Courts used the law to broadly condemn consensual interracial sex legally, in come cases. That does not explain every application. Johnson's paramour, turned spouse, wholly refused to testify against him. Witnesses testified against Combs. Each charge of the Mann Act carries a potential maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison. Defense lawyers argued the Mann Act was being selectively enforced in Combs' case. They accused prosecutors of being employed to destroy a successful Black man for engaging in a common, but technically criminal, practice, the New York Times reported. Juries convict average people under the Mann act. But it is overall rare and 'a very small percentage of prosecuted federal cases,' according to Bobby Taghavi, who spent over a decade serving at the Orange County District Attorney's office, where he dealt with well-known cases and prosecuted violent sex offenders. He explained his understanding of the frequency of the law's use in a statement to HelloBeautiful . 'It is more commonly used in high-profile, complex, or cross-jurisdictional cases, such as cases involving transportation of minors, sex trafficking rings, and celebrities, or public figures,' continued Taghavi who is currently a National Managing Partner of the personal injury firm Sweet James. 'Normally, such human trafficking and prostitution cases are prosecuted in State Court, and commonly in federal court it is a supplemental charge to RICO.' Neama Rahmani, a former federal prosecutor and legal commentator, told PEOPLE that it's likely Combs will get 'little to no time.' 'He may even get time served and prostitution has a 10 year maximum,' he said. 'But the fact that he was acquitted of the most serious counts. The government would not have brought this case had they thought they could only get prostitution.' The court declined to release Combs after the verdict. DON'T MISS: Horrifying Surveillance Footage Shows Diddy Physically Attacking Cassie In 2016 Janice Smalls Combs Breaks Her Silence Regarding Her Son, Sean 'Diddy' Combs Misa Hylton Reacts To Diddy's Leaked Assault Hotel Video SEE ALSO What Is The Mann Act? Understanding Diddy's 'Guilty' Verdict was originally published on
Black America Web
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
Cassie's Lawyer Praises Singer's Courage After Diddy Verdict: 'She Paved The Way'
Source: Neilson Barnard / Getty Despite Sean 'Diddy' Combs being acquitted of the more serious charges, Cassie Ventura's lawyer praised his clients bravery in helping this court get to trial even if the outcome isn't what they hoped for. 'This entire criminal process started when our client Cassie Ventura had the courage to file her civil complaint in November 2023,' Douglas H. Wigdor wrote in a statement published by Newsweek . 'Although the jury did not find Combs guilty of sex trafficking Cassie beyond a reasonable doubt, she paved the way for a jury to find him guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution.' Wigdor wanted people to remember that Cassie created a safe space for those who were also alleged victims of the Bad Boy founder to feel safe to come forward with their reported stories of abuse. While Diddy was not found guilty of racketeering and sex trafficking, he was convicted of two lesser prostitution charges and could face up to 20 years in prison, although several legal analysts find it hard to believe the 'Take That' ad-libber will get anything close to double digits. Wigdor noted that Ventura's decision to take the stand and face her abuser in court will help other sexual abuse victims. 'By coming forward with her experience, Cassie has left an indelible mark on both the entertainment industry and the fight for justice,' Wigdor's statement read. 'We must repeat — with no reservation — that we believe and support our client who showed exemplary courage throughout this trial.' 'She displayed unquestionable strength and brought attention to the realities of powerful men in our orbit and the misconduct that has persisted for decades without repercussion,' Wigdor's statement read. 'This case proved that change is long overdue, and we will continue to fight on behalf of survivors.' The singer made her allegations public in November 2023, accusing her Diddy of rape, coercion and years of physical abuse in a civil suit, that was quickly settled. SEE ALSO Cassie's Lawyer Praises Singer's Courage After Diddy Verdict: 'She Paved The Way' was originally published on
ABC News
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Cassie has emerged as a powerful figure after mixed verdict in Sean 'Diddy' Combs case
Warning: This story contains details of graphic sexual acts and domestic violence. Casandra "Cassie" Ventura was a picture of "poise" and "grace" as she entered the courtroom to give evidence against her ex-boyfriend of more than a decade, and her former boss music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs. If you need help immediately call emergency services on triple-0 Known professionally as Cassie, she's emerged as a powerful figure after bravely telling her story in a New York courtroom, winning the admiration of many globally. Cassie's ordeal with Combs resulted in her losing friends, as her former best friend testified during the trial. She long ago lost her innocence. Cassie's career trajectory was stunted. But one thing she has refused to shed is her dignity. Combs has been found not guilty on one count of racketeering conspiracy and two counts of sex trafficking. He has been found guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. While some advocacy groups say the mixed verdict is a backwards step for victims, a legal expert says the sentence, which will be handed down in October, is a much better indication of whether justice has been served. Brian Buckmire is a practicing attorney, ABC America legal contributor, and the host of Bad Rap: The Case Against Diddy, a popular and captivating podcast which gives listeners a backstage pass to the rise and fall of Combs. As someone who practices in the same courtroom where Combs was tried — the Southern District of New York — Mr Buckmire had unique access to the courtroom and was right there throughout the trial. He was almost in awe of Cassie as she walked into the courtroom. "When Cassie testifies, I'm in the courtroom, she's walking centimetres away from me as she walks towards the witness stand," Mr Buckmire told ABC News. Cassie, 38, gave birth to her third child roughly two weeks after taking the witness stand, testifying for a period of four days. She has two other children with her husband, fitness entrepreneur and actor Alex Fine — Frankie, born December 6, 2019, and Sunny, born March 22, 2021. Mr Buckmire said Cassie delivered her testimony in a soft tone. "At times she broke down when there was difficult testimony that she was talking about," Mr Buckmire said. "And even when she was cross-examined by Teny Geragos, she still maintained that kind of small and quiet way she responded." He says her testimony drew you in. "I don't know if it was the nature of the testimony that she was giving, the fact that she was pregnant, [or] how she testified," Mr Buckmire said. Cassie was born in Connecticut in August 1986 to her mother Regina who has West Indian, Mexican, and African American ancestry and her father Rodrick who is Filipino. In June 2021, Cassie celebrated Father's Day by posting a tribute to her parents on Instagram. "You (and Mom) have been my greatest support system and THE most real and true example of unconditional love," she wrote. Cassie first met Combs in 2005 when she was 19 years old, and Combs was in his 30s. She already had a hit on her hands with the song Me & U, which was getting radio airplay and was being heard in clubs after she'd built a following in the early days of social media. This is the song that drew Combs to Cassie. Combs signed Cassie to a 10-album deal with his record company Bad Boy, and her and Combs would later develop a romantic relationship. Cassie only released one of those albums, the self-titled Cassie, which was released in August 2006 and debuted at number four on the US Billboard 200 charts. Her career never really took off beyond that. Cassie's appearances on 106 & Park, a TV show which was a cultural touchstone in the United States on BET (Black Entertainment Television), and on MTV's Total Request Live were widely panned by critics and fans, with Cassie stating in her 2023 civil lawsuit against Combs that she suffered from significant performance anxiety. We now know what was going on behind the scenes with Cassie testifying that she engaged in "freak-offs" — drug-fuelled orgies with male escorts — while Combs watched, masturbated, and filmed, even directing the encounters. As Cassie tells it, this left little time to focus on her music. "The question [that] I think will always remain is: was Cassie not as talented as we believe?" Mr Buckmire said. "Was she a studio artist rather than a performance artist? "Or was it the brutality and the abuse and the Sean Combs of it all that knocked out that talent? "Because from what we saw in this trial, she went through a lot, and I don't know how you go through that and still be successful at your craft." In November 2023, Cassie filed a civil lawsuit alleging a violent and abusive relationship in which Combs would savagely beat her leaving bruises. She also alleged that she was forced into sex trafficking, for which Combs has been acquitted in the federal case. The civil lawsuit was settled within a day for $US20 million ($30.5 million). Combs denied all allegations. When CNN broadcast hotel security footage in which Combs is seen assaulting Cassie, it seemed to corroborate Cassie's account of those particular events. Combs took to social media to apologise for what was on the video. He was later arrested after Homeland Security raids on his homes and has been in jail ever since. In May 2024, after the footage of her being violently assaulted made its way around the world, Cassie posted to Instagram, asking that people believe victims the first time they speak out. Full statement from Cassie, May 23, 2024: Thank you for all of the love and support from my family, friends, strangers and those I have yet to meet. The outpouring of love has created a place for my younger self to settle and feel safe now, but this is only the beginning. Domestic Violence is THE issue. It broke me down to someone I never thought I would become. With a lot of hard work, I am better today, but I will always be recovering from my past. Thank you to everyone that has taken the time to take this matter seriously. My only ask is that EVERYONE open your heart to believing victims the first time. It takes a lot of heart to tell the truth out of a situation that you were powerless in. I offer my hand to those that are still living in fear. Reach out to your people, don't cut them off. No one should carry this weight alone. This healing journey is never ending, but this support means everything to me. Thank you. Love Always, Cassie Mr Buckmire says there's no doubt that Combs won the federal case. "I don't think there's any interpretation where you say the defence did not win," Mr Buckmire said. "They avoided a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison with both [of] the sex trafficking charges being dismissed. "They avoided life in prison, which would be the maximum for both the RICO as well as the sex trafficking. "They avoided automatic forfeiture of Sean Combs's assets that would have been tied directly or indirectly to the racketeering conspiracy if he was found guilty of that charge. "And he was only found guilty on the two counts that … have no mandatory minimum and have the lowest top end of prison time being a max of 10 years each. "If Sean Combs walks out of this doing five years of prison … because you were facing life in prison? That is a win." Mr Buckmire says while some people have interpreted the verdict to mean the jury didn't believe Cassie, he does not believe this to be the case. "I could say, at least from my reaction to hearing her testify, my observation of the jurors when she testified, and even to the arguments, she was believed," Mr Buckmire said. "I don't think anyone walked out of that courtroom thinking that Cassie was not a victim. He says the defence openly admitted that Cassie was a victim of domestic violence at the hands of Combs, but not sex trafficking. "Cassie displayed that she was brutally abused by Sean Combs, that he is a short-tempered abusive man towards Cassie and many other women that he was involved with. "But I think the defence was smart to say: 'What are we here for and what is he guilty of are two different things.' "And I think they gave themselves the credibility of saying, and Teny Geragos said this in opening statements, 'in some regard, he's indefensible … especially for what he did to Cassie.' "But I think that they were successful in arguing that Sean Combs is abusive for abuse sake, not for the purposes of transporting Cassie for the purposes of commercial sex through force, fraud, coercion, or the threat of force. "And that's what sex trafficking is." Cassie's lawyers contacted ABC News after the verdict, telling us the entire criminal process started due to the courage Cassie showed in filing her civil complaint in November 2023. Her lawyer, Douglas H Wigdor, says Cassie has left an indelible mark on the entertainment industry and the fight for justice for survivors. Full statement from Douglas H Wigdor (Wigdor LLP): "This entire criminal process started when our client Cassie Ventura had the courage to file her civil complaint in November 2023. Although the jury did not find Combs guilty of sex trafficking Cassie beyond a reasonable doubt, she paved the way for a jury to find him guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution. By coming forward with her experience, Cassie has left an indelible mark on both the entertainment industry and the fight for justice. We must repeat — with no reservation — that we believe and support our client who showed exemplary courage throughout this trial. She displayed unquestionable strength and brought attention to the realities of powerful men in our orbit and the misconduct that has persisted for decades without repercussion. This case proved that change is long overdue, and we will continue to fight on behalf of survivors." Mr Buckmire says it's possible to pluck a victory from the clutches of defeat, and he believes that's what Cassie's lawyers are doing. "But I think there is a catharsis," Mr Buckmire says. "I think there is a positive aspect to going into court, facing the person that you're accusing of sexual crimes and testifying in the way that Cassie did and no matter what the result, I think there's a victory in that for her. "Whether it be for her own catharsis, her own growth, her own feelings, whatever that may be. "I think 100 per cent right, her attorney is correct in this, that her lawsuit started this all. "Without her lawsuit, these allegations would be swept under the rug, never to see the light of day and I think if it doesn't amount to a long-term incarceration, at the very least, we're all aware of the man that Sean Combs is. "And I think that Cassie's testimony at the very least protected maybe the next woman who would have been the next Cassie. "And so, I think there's a lot of things that she can walk out of this trial for and say that she was successful, she's powerful, and that she's done a lot in terms of attaining justice in one way, shape or form." During the trial Mr Wigdor read a statement to reporters outside court from Cassie's husband, who said the world is a safer place due to his wife's testimony. Full statement from Cassie's husband, Alex Fine: "Over the past five days, the world has gotten to witness the strength and bravery of my wife, freeing herself of her past. There has been speculation online surrounding how it must feel for me to sit there and listen to my wife's testimony. I have felt so many things sitting there. I have felt tremendous pride and overwhelming love for Cass. I have felt profound anger that she has been subjected to sitting in front of a person who tried to break her. So, to him and all of those who helped him along the way, please know this: You did not. You did not break her spirit nor her smile that lights up every room. You did not break the souls of a mother who gives the best hugs and plays the silliest games with our little girls. You did not break the woman who has made me a better man. I did not save Cassie, as some have said. To say that is an insult to the years of painful work my wife has done to save herself. Cassie saved Cassie. She alone broke free from abuse, coercion, violence and threats. She did the work of fighting the demons that only a demon himself could have done to her. All I have done is love her as she has loved me. Her life is now surrounded by love, laughter and our family. This horrific chapter is forever put behind us, and we will not be making additional statements. We appreciate all of the love and support we have received, and we ask that you respect our privacy as we welcome our son into a world that is now safer because of his mom." Mr Buckmire says the next step is finding out how much prison time Combs will face. "I think the sentence is going to have a lot to say about this case and what the judge perceives about this case. "If Sean Combs walks out of that courtroom with only serving one or two years, I think that's going to be a strong indication as to whether or not people think that justice was found in this case. "If Sean Combs walks out of the building and he's sentenced to five to six years years, if he's sentenced to 10-15 years, the judge is [saying] 'I'm throwing the book at you', I think that's going to have another opinion as to whether or not this is justice.
Daily Mail
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE The hint Diddy judge gave that rapper still faces VERY long prison sentence
The judge who will decide Diddy 's prison sentence gave a hint that he will side with prosecutors and apply the full weight of the law against the music mogul. Judge Arun Subramanian denied Diddy's request for a $1million bond, arguing that, although he was acquitted of the most serious charges, the trial proved the rapper has 'a propensity for violence' and is a danger to society. The judge added that Diddy's 'violence was starkly depicted' in the 2016 footage of the rapper assaulting Cassie in a hotel hallway in Los Angeles. 'You full-throatedly in your closing argument told the jury that there was violence here, and domestic violence is violence,' Subramanian said as he denied Diddy's bond. 'You said this was a case that did have violence.' Indeed, Diddy's lawyers won the jury over by insisting that that Diddy was a domestic abuser, but not a sex-trafficker or the head of a criminal enterprise. Now the judge might use that same admission to justify a long prison sentence for his two convictions for transportation to engage in prostitution. Former federal prosecutor Jennifer Beidel told the judge's comments suggest he will side with prosecutors, who want Diddy to face four to five years - above the guidelines based on the sentences of other similarly situated defendants. 'He is saying he thinks that Diddy poses a danger to society,' Beidel said of Subramanian's comments. 'In the bond hearing, both sides did a guidelines calculation, and the government's was higher. I think the judge is probably signaling that he's gonna be receptive to some of those additions to the guidelines range, and when the guidelines range goes up, the sentence usually goes up.' Diddy's lawyers said that under federal sentencing guidelines, he would likely face about two years in prison. They pleaded with the judge to let the mogul await his sentencing in his Miami mansion. The judge declined the request and set a sentencing for October 3rd, though it's likely that date will be moved up in a hearing next week. Prosecutors already submitted letters by Diddy accusers as they objected to his bond proposal, including one from Cassie Ventura's lawyer saying, 'Ms. Ventura believes that Mr. Combs is likely to pose a danger to the victims who testified in this case, including herself, as well as to the community.' The state will likely submit further testimonies by alleged victims as they ask the judge for a lengthy sentence for Diddy. Locked up since his September arrest, Diddy has already served nine months. A jury of eight men and four women acquitted him of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges related to allegations that he used his money, power and frightening physical force to manipulate girlfriends into hundreds of drug-fueled sex marathons with men. Diddy's defense team argued that the women were willing participants and that none of his violence justified the severity of the charges. His lead attorney Marc Agnifilo asked that he be released on bond immediately to await sentencing, saying the acquittals changed the calculus about whether he needed to be held. 'He's not going to flee. He's been given his life back,' Agnifilo said. Judge Subramanian denied it, saying Diddy — for now — had not met the burden of showing by clear and convincing evidence a 'lack of danger to any person or the community.' Diddy sat stoic as he heard the bond decision, then snapped his head toward Agnifilo and wrote several notes as the lawyer spoke. Finally Diddy raised his hand and waved to get the judge's attention. But he ultimately did not speak after consulting with Agnifilo. Leaving the courtroom for a final time, he paused to address relatives packed into rows of wooden benches who supported him throughout the eight-week trial. 'Be strong. I love you,' he added, putting his hands to his lips and pushing a dramatic kiss toward loved ones. For more on the shocking verdict everyone is talking about, search for The Trial of Diddy- available wherever you get your podcasts now.
