Waymo recalls 1,200 self-driving vehicles after minor collisions

Waymo recalls 1,200 self-driving vehicles after minor collisions

By David Shepardson and Deborah Mary Sophia WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Alphabet's Waymo is recalling more than 1,200 self-driving vehicles to update software and address risks of collisions with chains, gates and other roadway barriers after U.S. auto safety investigators opened a probe last year. The recall affects 1,212 Waymo vehicles operating on the company's fifth-generation automated driving system (ADS) software, the company said. Waymo has over 1,500 vehicles on the road across San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix and Austin. Waymo said it was aware of 16 collisions with chains, gates and other barriers between 2022 and late 2024. But they did not result in any injuries, according to a report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA opened an investigation into the performance of Waymo self-driving vehicles in May 2024 after reports of its robotaxis exhibiting driving behavior that potentially violated traffic safety laws. The agency said several incidents under investigation "involved collisions with clearly visible objects that a competent driver would be expected to avoid." The investigation remains open. The issue has been fixed with its latest sixth-generation self-driving software, Waymo said, adding it had deployed its latest ADS software version across its entire fleet by the end of December. "Waymo provides more than 250,000 paid trips every week in some of the most challenging driving environments in the U.S.," the company said Wednesday. "Our record of reducing injuries over tens of millions of fully autonomous miles driven shows our technology is making roads safer," it added. In February 2024, Waymo recalled 444 self-driving vehicles after two minor collisions in quick succession in Arizona, saying a software error could result in automated vehicles inaccurately predicting the movement of a towed vehicle. Self-driving vehicle companies, including Waymo and General Motors' Cruise, have come under increased regulatory scrutiny following a 2023 incident where a pedestrian was seriously injured by a Cruise vehicle. GM cut Cruise's funding and folded it into its broader operations. Waymo recalled over 670 vehicles in June after one of them struck a wooden utility pole in Phoenix, Arizona in May 2024. Last week, Amazon.com's self-driving unit Zoox agreed to recall 270 driverless vehicles after an unoccupied robotaxi was involved in a crash with a passenger car in Las Vegas. No one was injured. (Reporting by Deborah Sophia in Bengaluru and David Shepardson in Washington; Editing by Anil D'Silva and Joe Bavier)

byVS personal

in

May 14, 2025

Waymo recalls 1,200 self-driving vehicles after minor collisions

Waymo recalls 1,200 self-driving vehicles after minor collisions By David Shepardson and Deborah Mary Sophia WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Alphabe...

Read More

Russia convicts a prominent election monitoring activist and sentences him to 5 years in prison

Russia convicts a prominent election monitoring activist and sentences him to 5 years in prison

A court in Moscow on Wednesday convicted one of the leaders of a prominent independent election monitoring group on charges of organizing the work of an "undesirable" organization and sentenced him to five years in prison. Grigory Melkonyants, co-chair of Russia's leading election watchdog Golos, has rejected the charges as politically motivated. The case against him is part of themonthslong crackdown on Kremlin criticsand rights activists that the government ratcheted up after invading Ukraine in 2022. After a judge of the Basmanny District Court delivered the verdict, Melkonyants, 44, told several dozen supporters and journalists from the glass defendant's cage: "Don't worry, I'm not despairing. You shouldn't despair either!" Golos has monitored for and exposed violations in every major election in Russia since it was founded in 2000. Over the years, it has faced mounting pressure from the authorities. In 2013, the group wasdesignated as a "foreign agent"— a label that implies additional government scrutiny and carries strong pejorative connotations. Three years later, it was liquidated as a non-governmental organization by Russia's Justice Ministry. Golos has continued to operate without registering as an NGO, exposing violations in various elections, and in 2021 it was added to a new registry of "foreign agents," created by the Justice Ministry for groups that are not registered as a legal entity in Russia. It has not been designated as "undesirable" — a label that under a 2015 law makes involvement with such organizations a criminal offense. But when it was an NGO, it was a member of the European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations, a group that was declared "undesirable" in Russia in 2021, and the charges against Melkonyants stemmed from that. The defense argued that when ENEMO was outlawed in Russia, Golos wasn't a member, and Melkonyants had nothing to do with it. Melkonyants, a renowned election expert and lawyer by training, was arrested in August 2023 and has been in custody ever since. Ella Pamfilova, chair of Russia's Central Election Commission, the country's main election authority, spoke out in his support at the time, telling Russian business daily Vedomosti about the case: "I would really like to hope that they will handle this objectively. Because his criticism, often professional, helped us a lot sometimes." Independent journalists, critics, activists and opposition figures in Russia have come under increasing pressure from the government in recent years that intensified significantly amid the war in Ukraine. Multiple independent news outlets and rights groups have been shut down, labeled as "foreign agents" or outlawed as "undesirable." Hundreds of activists and critics of the Kremlin have faced criminal charges. Melkonyants' defense team said after the verdict that they will appeal. Lawyer Mikhail Biryukov told reporters that "there is no evidence" in the case that he and others on the defense team consider "politically motivated, pretentious." "We will fight for Grigory's freedom, because an illegal, unjust verdict should not exist. It should not stand (in the appeal proceedings). We all hope that the law will prevail," Biryukov said. Memorial, Russia's prominent human rights group thatwon the Nobel Peace Prizein 2022, has designated Melkonyants as a political prisoner.

byVS personal

in

May 14, 2025

Russia convicts a prominent election monitoring activist and sentences him to 5 years in prison

Russia convicts a prominent election monitoring activist and sentences him to 5 years in prison A court in Moscow on Wednesday convicted one...

Read More

Israel targets Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar in hospital strike in Gaza, sources say

Israel targets Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar in hospital strike in Gaza, sources say

Israel has targeted Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar in a strike on a hospital in southernGazaon Tuesday evening, according to a senior Israeli official and two sources familiar with the matter. He became the militant group's de facto leader after the Israeli military killed his brother,Yahya Sinwar, last October. Tuesday's strike killed six Palestinians and wounded at least 40 more, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it carried out a strike on the European hospital in Khan Younis, targeting "Hamas terrorists in a command and control center" in underground infrastructure beneath the hospital. The IDF did not identify the target of the strike. Multiple airstrikes hit the yard of the hospital, according to Dr. Saleh Al Hams, the head of nursing. Some people are buried under the rubble, he said, calling it "a catastrophe." Medical teams tried to move patients to safe units inside the hospital. Video from the scene showed towering pillars of smoke and dust from what appeared to be some of the largest strikes in Gaza in recent weeks. Hamas rejected any Israeli claims about Sinwar, saying in a statement, "The Palestinian resistance alone, through its official platforms, is the authority authorized to confirm or deny what is published." On Tuesday night, the IDF said it intercepted two rockets fired from Gaza, in what appears to be the first launch from the besieged territory in a month. A third rocket landed in an open area. The military wing of Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack, saying they fired at Israeli cities near Gaza. A short time later, Israel issued evacuation warnings for the Jabalya refugee camp and nearby areas in northern Gaza, saying the IDF will "strike and operate in every location from which rockets are fired." The targeting of Sinwar comes one day after Hamas released Israeli American Edan Alexander in what was a goodwill gesture to the United States. The deal for a single hostage's release sidelined Israel, as Hamas communicated with the Trump administration. The US expressed some optimism about negotiations set to take place in Qatar with President Donald Trump and his envoy Steve Witkoff in the Middle East. Before leaving Israel, Witkoff promised the families of the hostages that he "will be relentless on that pursuit." But with negotiations about to start in Doha – and with an Israeli team en route – the targeting of Sinwar means Israel has just attempted to kill Hamas' key decision maker needed to seal any potential agreement. Israeli officials considered Mohammed Sinwar just as hardline as his brother, Yahya, but much more experienced militarily. According to the IDF, he commanded the Khan Younis Brigade until 2016. Like Yahya, he is believed to be one of the main planners of the October 7 terror attack on Israel. Since the start of the war, he has remained hidden, along with many of Hamas' senior leaders in Gaza. In December 2023, the IDF released video of what they said was Mohammed Sinwar driving through a tunnel in Gaza. In February 2024, the IDF said they had located his office in western Khan Younis. Former US Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro said Sinwar was likely an obstacle in negotiations. "There is little chance the war can end before he dies," Shapiro, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, told CNN. "His removal could open the door for the release of all hostages and beginning to move toward a post-war future for Gaza without Hamas." But even if Sinwar is dead, it could take some time before Israel says officially that it has killed him, and even longer for Hamas to acknowledge his death. In mid-July, Israel said it had targeted Mohammed Deif in a strike on a designated humanitarian zone in southern Gaza. It took until August, more than two weeks later, for the IDF to declare it had indeed killed Deif. Hamas did not confirm his death until the end of January, nearly six months later. Before October, it was primarily Yahya Sinwar who was in the crosshairs of the Israeli military. Imprisoned for four life sentences in 1988, Yahya became fluent in Hebrew and said he spent his years studying his enemy. He was released in 2011 as part of the deal to free Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who had been held hostage by Hamas in Gaza for five years. His release has been attributed to the fact that his brother Mohammed was one of Shalit's kidnappers and insisted on Yahya's inclusion in the deal. Back in Gaza, Yahya quickly rose through the ranks of the militant organization, ultimately becoming its leader After October 7, Yahya became Israel's most wanted man, and the IDF searched for him in the tiny coastal enclave. US officials believed Israel had come close to Yahya more than once, flushing him out of underground hiding places. But Yahya moved undetected in the tunnels under Gaza, rarely coming above ground and avoiding detection by Israel's electronic surveillance. Ultimately, it was a routine Israeli patrol in Gaza which engaged in a firefight in Rafah in southern Gaza that discovered Yahya's body in Rafah. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

byVS personal

in

May 14, 2025

Israel targets Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar in hospital strike in Gaza, sources say

Israel targets Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar in hospital strike in Gaza, sources say Israel has targeted Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar in a st...

Read More

Joan Rivers' Death: Revisiting the Legendary Comedian's Final Moments and the Lawsuit That Followed

Joan Rivers' Death: Revisiting the Legendary Comedian's Final Moments and the Lawsuit That Followed

Getty Comedian Joan Rivers died on Sept. 4, 2014, at 81 years old She had experienced complications during a medical procedure and was put into a coma In 2016, her daughter Melissa Rivers settled a lawsuit against the surgical center that performed the operation for an undisclosed amount of money Joan Riverswas a force to be reckoned with. The comedian, who died nearly 11 years ago in 2014, is the subject of a May 13 NBC special,Joan Rivers: A Dead Funny All Star Tribute. In the lead-up, fellow comedians — includingAubrey Plaza,Nikki Glaser,Tiffany Haddishand more —posed with Rivers' ashes. Despite it being a controversial choice, daughterMelissa Riversthinks her mom would have loved the tribute. "Given that I'm dead, I assume someone will finally decide to honor me. Well, it's about time," she thinks her mother would have said about the special. Joan died over a decade ago when she stopped breathing during a routine medical procedure in a New York City clinic on Aug. 28, 2014, perCBS. She was then rushed to the hospital and placed in a medically induced coma. A week later, Melissa announced that Joan had "passed peacefully" on Sept. 4, 2014. So, how did Joan Rivers die? Here's everything to know about the TV legend's death. On Aug. 28, 2014, Joan underwent a minor, elective vocal cord procedure at the Yorkville Endoscopy Center in N.Y.C., perCBS. During the surgery, Joan's vocal cords seized — a condition called laryngospasm — which cut off her air supply. When Joan's vitals plummeted, her doctor, Gwen Korovin, who Melissa claims was not credentialed to perform surgery at the Yorkville Endoscopy Center, allegedly left to "avoid getting caught," according to a lawsuit later filed against her and the clinic by Melissa. Korovin's lawyer denied that she left the room, according toThe New York Times. In November 2014, the New York State Department of Health found that mistakes made by Dr. Korovin and the clinic's staff caused Joan irreversible brain damage, according to a report obtained by PEOPLE. "The physicians in charge of the care of the patient failed to identify deteriorating vital signs and provide timely intervention during the procedure," the report read. Joan was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where she later died, per CBS. According to the medical examiner, her official cause of death was "anoxic encephalopathy due to hypoxic arrest" — a.k.a. brain damage due to lack of oxygen. The following year, Melissa filed a lawsuit against the Yorkville Endoscopy Center, claiming that the doctors performed a biopsy that her mom had not consented to — and that they failed to realize that she was losing oxygen until it was too late, according to the complaint obtained by PEOPLE. The complaint also alleged that two of the doctors took a selfie with her while she was unconscious on the operating table. Korovin "categorically" denied performing a biopsy and taking a selfie photo of Rivers while she was under anesthesia at the medical clinic, perCNN. "The level of medical mismanagement, incompetency, disrespect, and outrageous behavior is shocking and frankly, almost incomprehensible," Melissa said in a statement. "Not only did my mother deserve better, every patient deserves better. It is my goal to make sure that this kind of horrific medical treatment never happens to anyone again." There was no immediate response from the clinic, perNBC. Melissa's lawsuit was settled in 2016, although the details — including the amount of money involved — were not revealed publicly. "I am able to put the legal aspects of my mother's death behind me and ensure that those culpable for her death have been responsible for their actions quickly and without equivocation," she said in a statement at the time. Getty Joan died at 1:17 p.m. on Sept. 4, 2014 — a week after undergoing a minor procedure on her vocal cords. She was surrounded by close friends and family, including her daughter, Melissa. "My mother's greatest joy in life was to make people laugh," Melissa said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE. "Although that is difficult to do right now, I know her final wish would be that we return to laughing soon." According toABC 7, Joan performed the night before her procedure at the Laurie Beechman Theatre in N.Y.C. An audience member seated close to the stage told the outlet she was performing new material and looked healthy enough to "run a track race." Joan died at Mount Sinai Hospital in N.Y.C., not too far fromwhere she was bornin Brooklyn. Though shemoved to Los Angeleswith her husband, Edgar Rosenburg, in the late 1960s, she moved back to the northeast city after hedied by suicidein 1987. "My parents always felt like fish out of water in L.A., and it really became acute for my mother after my dad died," Melissa told PEOPLE in 2024. "It just wasn't who they were. It wasn't who she was. And apparently, my parents had this pact that when one of them died, the other one would go back to New York. I have no idea why they had this pact, but I think it's because neither of them liked living in L.A." In 2024, the Manhattan penthouse the comedian called home for 28 years wasremoved from the marketafter almost three years of trying to find a buyer. Getty Born on June 8, 1933, the comedian — whose real name was Joan Molinsky — was 81 years old when she died. She began her onstage career performing at nightclubs and coffeehouses around N.Y.C. Her big break came in 1965 when she won over host Johnny Carson with her stand-up routine onThe Tonight Show. From there, she published multiple books, directed movies, hosted anEmmy-winning daytime talk show, performed on Broadway, launched a jewelry line for QVC and roasted celebrities for their red-carpet looks on E!'sFashion Police. In May 2016, Melissa told theTodayshow that after settling the suit against Yorkville Endoscopy Center, she got to learn what Joan's last words were. She chose not to make them public, but according toThe Hollywood Reporter, she did reveal the "very normal conversation" she had with her mother right before the surgery. "All she said was, 'Ugh, I hate having to do this. Getting old sucks,' " Melissa said. A star-studded funeral was held for Joan on Sept. 7, 2014, at Temple Emanu-El in N.Y.C. In addition to the crowds of fans standing outside, there was a long list of celebrity attendees, includingSarah Jessica Parker,Hoda Kotb,Andy Cohen,Matthew Broderick,Kathy Griffin,Whoopi GoldbergandHugh Jackman. The service included a performance by the N.Y.C. Gay Men's Chorus and a speech byHoward Stern. "She fought the stereotype that women couldn't be funny," he said. "She was responsible for putting the red carpet into prime time." Getty Today, Joan is remembered as a legendary comedian who paved the way for women in show business. She was also an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community — she was one of the first celebrities to raise money for AIDS research in the 1980s, a move for whichher family allegedly received so many threatsthat Joan sent Melissa to school with bodyguards. While fans will remember her quick wit, sharp tongue and fearless attitude, Melissa told PEOPLE in 2018 that her mother's "greatest legacy" is her grandson,Cooper. "The best legacy that I can give my mother — that everyone can give their parent — is to raise a good and decent child," she said. "Cooper and I often talk about what is our family legacy. And I feel like our legacy is to live a life that you can be proud of on many levels." She continued, "Giving your best professionally and personally. Giving back to others. Cooper and I always try to remember how fortunate we are, just by rite of birth. We can never lose sight of that. We're not entitled to anything. We work for what we have. That's how my mother lived." Read the original article onPeople

byVS personal

in

May 14, 2025

Joan Rivers' Death: Revisiting the Legendary Comedian's Final Moments and the Lawsuit That Followed

Joan Rivers' Death: Revisiting the Legendary Comedian's Final Moments and the Lawsuit That Followed Getty Comedian Joan Rivers died ...

Read More

Rosamund Pike Says She Was Asked to ‘Unzip and Drop’ Her Dress and ‘Just Stand There in Underwear’ During Bond Girl Audition: ‘I Won’t Be Doing That’

Rosamund Pike Says She Was Asked to 'Unzip and Drop' Her Dress and 'Just Stand There in Underwear' During Bond Girl Audition: 'I Won't Be Doing That'

Rosamund Pike says her audition for "Die Another Day" almost went too far. In a recent sit-down withHarper's Bazaar UK, Pike, who played Miranda Frost in the 2002 Bond flick, says she was asked to strip down to her underwear when auditioning for the film. More from Variety Donald Trump Says 'James Bond Has Nothing to Worry About' Amid Movie Tariff Concerns: 'And You Know, Sean Connery Was a Friend of Mine' 'The Thursday Murder Club,' Whodunit Starring Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley and Celia Imrie, Sets Release Date on Netflix 'MobLand' Episode 2 Recap: Tom Hardy, Pierce Brosnan Break Down the 'Psychosis' Tearing at the Harrigans "In the Bond audition, I was asked to unzip and drop the dress I was wearing, to just stand there in underwear," Pike said. "And I thought, 'Well, no, I'll be doing that if I get the part. I won't be doing that now.' I don't know what possessed me." Despite the disagreement, Pike went on to star alongside Pierce Brosnan in "Die Another Day." In the film, Pike's Miranda Frost, a Harvard grad and Olympic fencer, disguises herself as a fellow member of MI6, only to later be revealed as a double agent. In the movie's climax, she is taken out by another iconic Bond girl, Jinx Johnson, played by Halle Berry. In a separate interview with David Tennant on his "David Tennant Does a Podcast with," she recalled an awkward moment while filming an intimate scene opposite Brosnan. "We have this clinch, and then we separate, and I look at this body tape and the nipple covers and they're covered in hair," Pike recalled. "And I think, 'Oh my God, I'm waxing Pierce's chest.'" She continued, "I was so mortified. I thought, 'Oh my God, he's so brave, and I'm pulling off his chest hair with every embrace.' And of course, it took a couple of takes to realize it was not him. It was the fake fur of the rugs adorning the swan bed. I literally thought I was waxing the poor man's chest." Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz Oscars Predictions 2026: 'Sinners' Becomes Early Contender Ahead of Cannes Film Festival Sign up forVariety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us onFacebook,Twitter, andInstagram.

byVS personal

in

May 14, 2025

Rosamund Pike Says She Was Asked to ‘Unzip and Drop’ Her Dress and ‘Just Stand There in Underwear’ During Bond Girl Audition: ‘I Won’t Be Doing That’

Rosamund Pike Says She Was Asked to 'Unzip and Drop' Her Dress and 'Just Stand There in Underwear' During Bond Girl Audition...

Read More

Legendary Country Artist George Strait Reveals He Has 'Maybe 5 Good Years' Left

Legendary Country Artist George Strait Reveals He Has 'Maybe 5 Good Years' Left

George Straitjust made a bold prediction about how much time he has left as a performer—and thecountry musiclegend's comments sent fans into a frenzy. On May 10, the "Love Without End, Amen" crooner, 72, made a candid confession to fans at a concert in Philadelphia. 🎬SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox🎬 "I have maybe five good years to sing my songs for you folks," he told the crowd, as seen in a clip from the show shared viaTikTok. Strait continued, "But hell, it's been around 50 now. And I still love it just as much as I ever did ...When I walk through those curtains and I see your smiling faces, my feet don't touch the ground again until I walk back out and get on that bus." In the comments, many fans were emotional over the thought of Strait's limited time left on the stage. One TikTok user wrote, "I was there for this concert this past weekend! This made me tear up! 😩." Another shared, "💜 Oh my heart." "I was at the concert..... I can tell you at this moment I cried 😭," someone else admitted. A different TikTok user pointed out, "Seeing this man live is the privilege of a lifetime. Not everyone will get to experience it. I feel so blessed!! 🤍." Meanwhile, yet another fan declared, "We love you, George!! Long live the Cowboy King of Country Music." Next:'90s Bombshell Actress, 53, Puts on Busty Display 20 Years AfterBaywatch

byVS personal

in

May 14, 2025

Legendary Country Artist George Strait Reveals He Has 'Maybe 5 Good Years' Left

Legendary Country Artist George Strait Reveals He Has 'Maybe 5 Good Years' Left George Straitjust made a bold prediction about how m...

Read More

Eligible for parole

Eligible for parole

Good morning!👋🏾I'm Jane, Daily Briefing author.The expiration date for the universe is sooner than previously thought, researchers say.But there's no need to cancel your summer vacation. The Menendez brothersare eligible for parole,a judge ruled. President Trump is setto meetwith Syria's president. Sports betting is anout-of-control crazeamong young men. The Menendez brothers are significantly closer to possible release from prison after a Los Angeles judge resentenced them in the August 1989 shotgun deaths of their parents. Erik and Lyle Menendez, held in custody since 1990and originally sentenced to two consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole, were each resentenced to 50 years to life by Judge Michael Jesic on Tuesday, making them eligible for parole. The brothers were convictedof murdering their wealthy parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, after unsuccessfully arguing that they acted in self-defense following years of physical and sexual abuse. A wave of public attention and supportfueled recent attempts to reconsider their sentences and get the brothers released from prison. State parole officials will now reviewthe case and decide whether the brothers should be released from prison. President Donald Trump will meet Wednesday with the new Syrian president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, the White House said. It comes the day after Trump said he will order the end of sanctions against Syria to "give them a chance of greatness." Trump made the pledge during remarks Tuesday in Riyadh as he makes his first presidential visit of his second term. The White House announced billions of dollars in arms deals and Saudi investments during Trump's stay. The U.S. agreed to sell Saudi Arabia an arms package worth nearly $142 billion.Read more Cassie Ventura, ex-girlfriendof Sean "Diddy" Combs, gives emotional testimonyduring his trial. 'SEEK HIGHER GROUND NOW!': Atmospheric riverslams Southeast. Federal grand jury indictsWisconsin Judge Hannah Duganin ICE case Small businesses callTrump's tariffs "unlawful," urge federaltrade court to block them. What's the weather today?Check your local forecast here. House Republicans defended a bill that would enact sweeping tax cuts, raise the debt ceiling and add restrictions to benefit programs during a heated marathon day of committee hearings on Capitol Hill. Three separate panels reviewed the legislation that would become part of a massive package to implement President Donald Trump's agenda Tuesday. Democrats repeatedly slammed the package as a giveaway to the wealthy at the expense of benefit programs like Medicaid and food stamps. As the hearing on Medicaid kicked off, protesters began chanting: "No cuts to Medicaid!" They were escorted out, and 26 people were arrested.Read more Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has some explaining to do. Nearly four months into his new job, he is set to testify Wednesday before a pair of Congressional committees who are expected to grill him on a range of controversial topics – from proposed budget cuts to his flip-flop on vaccinations as a preventative tool during the nation's measles outbreak. It comes after more than 100 Congressional Democrats signed a letter urging Kennedy to scrub planned budget cuts that would eliminate crucial mental health services for LGBTQ+ youth.Read more Cavaliers' fantastic seasonends in NBA playoffs disappointment.What now? "SNL" star Sarah Sherman speaks out about controversialAimee Lou Wood impression. Reading doesn't haveto be solitary. Here'show to connect with fellow book lovers. Here's how to cook baconwithout making a mess. It was Game 5 in the Western Conference 2018 finals, and with just over a minute left in the game, Houston Rockets guard Eric Gordon hit a clutch shot. Rockets win, 98-94 against the Golden State Warriors. When Gordon scored, the room erupted in Saul Malek's suburban Houston home. But the 20-year-old, a lifelong Rockets fan, was panicking. He had bet $1,500 on the Warriors to win, and he now owed money he didn't have to his bookie. It would be the first of many times he went into debt due to a sports gambling addiction that ruled his life for two years.Read more Get ready for glam! Some of the biggest names in Hollywood stepped out on the famed red carpet at the 78th Cannes International Film Festival in the south of France, which began Tuesday. See the best looks,from Halle Berry to Bella Hadid to Leonardo DiCaprio. Sign up for the Daily Briefing email here. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Daily Briefing: Menendez brothers, Trump Mideast trip, Medicaid, RFK Jr.

byVS personal

in

May 14, 2025

Eligible for parole

Eligible for parole Good morning!👋🏾I'm Jane, Daily Briefing author.The expiration date for the universe is sooner than previously thou...

Read More

Edmunds electric SUV test: 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs 2026 Tesla Model Y

Edmunds electric SUV test: 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs 2026 Tesla Model Y

The Tesla Model Y and the Hyundai Ioniq 5 are two of the hottest electric SUVs on the market. Adding to their appeal, both SUVs were recently updated. The2026 Model Yhas new styling, higher-quality interior materials and a smoother ride quality. Changes to the2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5aren't as dramatic, but you do get more range, easier-to-use controls and new ways to charge. Which recently updated electric SUV is the better buy? Edmunds' experts compare them to find out. Range and charging The 2026 Model Y is currently only available in the Long Range All-Wheel Drive version. It delivers an EPA-estimated 327 miles of range, which is impressive for a dual-motor electric SUV. Edmunds tested this version on its independent, standardized EV range test and found the Tesla matched its EPA estimate in real-world driving. The 2025 Ioniq 5's estimated range spans from 245 miles in the base model to 318 miles in most single-motor models, which are rear-wheel-drive. Edmunds tested an Ioniq 5 Limited with dual electric motors and all-wheel drive. It beat its EPA estimate of 269 miles by going 282 miles in Edmunds' testing. The Ioniq 5's new Tesla-style charging port allows it to charge at most Tesla Supercharger fast-charging stations. The Model Y has access to any type of Tesla charging station. Both can charge at non-Tesla stations as well. When using a high-powered fast-charging station, the Model Y can add up to 169 miles in 15 minutes. The Ioniq 5 charges a little quicker, regaining 178 miles in 15 minutes. The Tesla offers a bit more maximum range but charges a little slower, making it a tie here. Winner: tie Interior and tech features Tesla stuffs a lot of standard tech in the Model Y, including a large 15.4-inch center touchscreen, a 16-speaker audio system, dual wireless phone chargers and several advanced driver aids. You can also stream movies and play arcade games when you're parked. Tesla's Full Self-Driving (Supervised) system is an expensive option, but it can drive and navigate the Model Y traffic on city streets and highways as long as the driver is paying attention and is prepared to take control if needed. The Ioniq 5's base trim comes standard with a 12.3-inch center touchscreen and a pleasing number of advanced driver aids. Wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration is also standard; neither system is available on the Model Y. However, you need to upgrade to a higher trim for the eight-speaker Bose audio system and upgraded highway driving assist system. Both SUVs seat five and are spacious and comfortable. They also ride smoothly over bumps and are composed when cornering. But Edmunds has found it's the little things that help the Ioniq 5 get an edge here. Its available 360-degree camera system is more helpful than the Tesla's when parking, for example, and its controls and features are easier to use and learn. The Model Y's touchscreen, which controls almost everything, can be distracting to use while driving. Winner: Ioniq 5 Utility The Model Y provides loads of cargo space: 29 cubic feet behind the rear seats and a whopping 71.4 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down. The front trunk adds another 4.1 cubes. The Ioniq 5 has less space, but it's enough for most folks: 26.3 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 58.5 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. However, its front trunk is only large enough for a charging cord. As for small-item storage, both SUVs provide plenty of compartments and sizable door pockets. The Ioniq 5 has a movable center console that's handy at times. Winner: Model Y Pricing and value The Model Y Long Range All-Wheel Drive currently starts at $50,630, and other models should be offered later. Although not cheap, it's an excellent value because of its extensive list of standard tech features, several standard comfort features like heated and ventilated front seats, and lengthy range. The Ioniq 5's base Standard Range model starts at $44,075 but provides only 245 miles of range. The SE model, which offers 318 miles, is about $4,000 more. Neither one has as many standard features as the Tesla, but the lower price makes the Hyundai attainable for shoppers with smaller budgets. Both the Model Y and the Ioniq 5 currently qualify for federal tax credits. Winner: tie Edmunds says This comparison is a draw; both electric SUVs are excellent choices, so it comes down to personal preference. If you want a more traditional vehicle that's easier to use, go for the Ioniq 5. But if you prefer the Model Y's minimalist design approach and distinctive tech features, then it's the EV for you. ____ This story was provided toThe Associated Pressby the automotive websiteEdmunds. Michael Cantuis a contributor at Edmunds.

byVS personal

in

May 14, 2025

Edmunds electric SUV test: 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs 2026 Tesla Model Y

Edmunds electric SUV test: 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs 2026 Tesla Model Y The Tesla Model Y and the Hyundai Ioniq 5 are two of the hottest elect...

Read More

What to expect at RFK Jr.'s first Senate hearing as health secretary

What to expect at RFK Jr.'s first Senate hearing as health secretary

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy wanted an assurance fromRobert F. Kennedy Jr.before he would vote to put him in charge of the nation's $1.7 trillion health department. Kennedy's history of promoting conspiracy theories or misspeaking about vaccines alarmed Cassidy, he said duringa confirmation hearingearlier this year. So, the Louisiana senator asked: "Can I trust that that is now in the past?" Kennedy didn't give a direct answer that day. Now three months into the job, however, Kennedy's habit of casting doubts on vaccines has returned in interviews on television shows, public speeches and social media posts. Kennedy will make his first appearance as health secretary before Cassidy's powerful Senate health committee on Wednesday, when he's expected to face intense scrutiny aboutthe thousands of job he's eliminatedat the Department of Health and Human Services, the steep cuts he's made to vaccination campaigns and his response toa measles outbreakthat's sickened 1,000 people. He will speak aboutthe agency's budget requestfor the year, which includes a $500 million boost for his "Make America Healthy Again" initiative to promote nutrition and healthier lifestyles. The proposed budget also makes deep cuts, including to infectious disease prevention, maternal health and preschool programs. The secretary plans to "share his vision on how HHS' transformation will improve health outcomes, eliminate redundancies to save the American taxpayer, and streamline operations to improve efficiency and service," HHS said in a statement to The Associated Press. Kennedy's supporters, meanwhile, have viewed his first three months in the job as a successful delivery of "MAHA" agenda items: He's pressured food companies toditch artificial dyes, promised to study the cause of autism,vowed to reverse fluoride recommendationsand earned buy-in from several Republican governors to ban soda from the food stamp program, for example. But many eyes and ears will be on Kennedy's dialogue with Cassidy, who extracted a number of guarantees from Kennedy about his approach to vaccines. Those included promises to keep the current childhood vaccination schedule, use the current vaccine monitoring system and not remove statements that say vaccines do not cause autism on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. "I will watch carefully for any effort to wrongfully sow public fear about vaccines between confusing references of coincidences and anecdote," Cassidy said earlier this year, after voting in favor of Kennedy's nomination. Kennedy has since delivereda mixed messageon vaccines that public health experts have said are hampering efforts to contain the measles outbreak. He's offered endorsements of vaccinations but continued to raise questions about their efficacy or safety. He's said the childhood vaccine schedule will be examined ina study of autism's causes. He's called the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine — a shot given to children to provide immunity from all three diseases — "leaky," althoughit offers lifetime protectionfrom the measles for most people. He's also saidthey cause deaths, although none has been documented among healthy people. At the agency, too, he's made moves that support the anti-vaccine movement. He hired a man who has published research that suggests vaccines cause developmental delays to oversee a study on autism. And he's terminated some research andpublic health fundsdedicated to vaccines. Kennedy, who has rejected the anti-vaccine label, has regularly said that he is "pro-safety" and wants more research on vaccines, although decades of real-world use and research have concluded they safely prevent deadly diseases in children. "His longstanding advocacy has always focused on ensuring that vaccines, and other medical interventions, meet the highest standards of safety and are supported by gold-standard science," HHS said in a statement. "As he did during confirmation, Secretary Kennedy is prepared to address questions surrounding this topic."

byVS personal

in

May 14, 2025

What to expect at RFK Jr.'s first Senate hearing as health secretary

What to expect at RFK Jr.'s first Senate hearing as health secretary WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy wanted an assurance ...

Read More

Kendall Jenner Reveals She Chipped a Tooth Ahead of Watching the Knicks with Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet: 'No Way!'

Kendall Jenner Reveals She Chipped a Tooth Ahead of Watching the Knicks with Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet: 'No Way!'

Kylie Jenner/Instagram Kendall Jenner appeared to chip her tooth while onboard a private jet on her way to see the New York Knicks play, according to an Instagram video shared by her sister Kylie In the clip, a laughing Kendall showed off a tiny piece that had chipped off her front tooth, which she appears to mistake for one of her nails Kendall and Kylie subsequently attended the Knicks' game with Kylie's boyfriend, Timothée Chalamet, at Madison Square Garden on Monday, May 12 Kendall Jennersuffered a dental mishap during her recent trip to see the New York Knicks play. In avideoshared by her sister,Kylie Jenneron Instagram on Tuesday, May 13, Kendall, 29, appeared to have chipped a tiny piece off her front tooth while heading to a Knicks game in New York City. The clip — which was part of anInstagram carouselthat Kylie captioned "Knicks in 🖐🏼" — showed Kendall in a fit of giggles while sitting in her seat on a private jet. She held out her hand to the camera, revealing a tiny piece of tooth on her fingertip. "Did my nail just come off? Or was it my tooth?" Kendall said through laughs. Her 27-year-old sister Kylie then panned the camera over to Kendall's mouth, showing a close-up shot of her chipped front tooth. "B----, you are not going to the Knicks game today," the cosmetic mogul laughed as she zoomed in again on the piece of chipped tooth in the model's hand. Kylie Jenner/Instagram "Oh my god! No way," Kendall commented, still giggling. Kylie's daughterStormi, 7, was then heard behind the camera asking what had happened. Kendall alsorepostedthe clip of the unfortunate mishap to her own Instagram Stories. Kendall and Kylieattended the Knicks' winning gameagainst the Boston Celtics alongside Kylie's boyfriend and Knicks superfan,Timothée Chalamet, at Madison Square Garden on Monday, May 12. Kylie's friendJordyn Woodswas also seen greeting the group courtside at the game. Kylie also shared several photos and clips from the N.Y.C. trip in her Instagram post on Monday. One snapshot showed her and Kendall posing in a mirror in tank tops and leather pants while sporting matching blue Knicks caps. Kendall was also snapped sucking on a lollipop at the Knicks game, appearing to have recovered from her chipped tooth saga. Kylie Jenner/Instagram Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Kylie's twochildren, Stormi and sonAire, 3, were seen in a second video as they joined their mom on the vacation. The adorable siblings helped each other to eat plates of room service chicken tenders that had been delivered to their suite, as Kylie could be heard off camera saying, "Stormi, help your brother." Read the original article onPeople

byVS personal

in

May 14, 2025

Kendall Jenner Reveals She Chipped a Tooth Ahead of Watching the Knicks with Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet: 'No Way!'

Kendall Jenner Reveals She Chipped a Tooth Ahead of Watching the Knicks with Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet: 'No Way!' Kylie Jen...

Read More

Robert De Niro Hits the Cannes Red Carpet with Partner Tiffany Chen, Plus Eva Longoria, Selena Gomez and More

Robert De Niro Hits the Cannes Red Carpet with Partner Tiffany Chen, Plus Eva Longoria, Selena Gomez and More

Stars have been everywhere this week. At the Cannes Film Festival,Robert De Nirosteps out for a rare appearance with his partner,Tiffany Chen, whileEva Longoriadazzles fans upon arrival. In New York,Only Murders in the BuildingcostarsMartin Short,Selena GomezandSteve Martinpromote their show while Nick Jonas is out and about. Here are the best photos of celebs out and about this week. Come back tomorrow for more of the latest A-list outings! SAMEER AL-DOUMY/AFP via Getty Robert De Niro and his partner Tiffany Chen arrive in style on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival in France on May 13. Erik Pendzich/Shutterstock Martin Short, Selena Gomez and Steve Martin celebrate the upcoming fifth season ofOnly Murders in the Buildingat Disney Upfront in New York City on May 13. SAMEER AL-DOUMY/AFP via Getty Eva Longoria is all smiles on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival in France on May 13. Jason Howard/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images Nick Jonas looks cool as ever as he takes a stroll around New York City on May 13. Reynaud Julien/APS-Medias/ABACA/Shutterstock Bella Hadidwaves to the crowd at the Cannes Film Festival in France on May 13. Gisela Schober/Getty Quentin Tarantinoembraces his wifeDaniellaat the Cannes Film Festival in France on May 13. TheImageDirect.com Pete Davidsonsteps out with girlfriendElsie Hewittin New York City on May 13. Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Jason Weinberg,Demi Mooreand Merritt Johnson attend Family Equality's Night at the Pier event to raise money for LGBTQ+ families in New York City on May 12. John Nacion/WireImage Chandra WilsonrepsGrey's Anatomyat Disney Upfront in New York City on May 13. Jason Howard/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images Alfonso Ribeirolooks polished in purple while out in New York City on May 13. Eugene Gologursky/Getty Bobbi BrownandLauren Bush Laurenshow their support at Albert Einstein College of Medicine's Spirit Awards in New York City on May 13. Jacopo Raule/GC Images Heidi Klumlooks radiant in a pink floral dress on her way to the Cannes Film Festival in France on May 13. Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images Renée Zellwegergets sleuthing on the set ofOnly Murders in the Buildingin New York City on May 13. Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Timothée ChalametandKylie Jennersit courtside at the playoff game between the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks on May 12 in New York City. Dia Dipasupil/Getty Travisand Jason Kelce host the Amazon Upfront, announcing the streamer's new projects, in New York City on May 12. Aaron Chown - WPA Pool/Getty Kate Middletongreets guests at the British Fashion Council in London on May 12, where she presents the Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design. Heidi Gutman/NBCUniversal via Getty Amy PoehlerandTina Feyreunite at an NBCUniversal event announcing the network's primetime show lineup. Elsa/Getty Cardi Band NFL starStefon Diggsfuel dating rumors as they celebrate the New York Knicks' win against the Boston Celtics on May 12 in New York City. Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Kelly Ripa,Nicole Scherzinger,andMark Consuelossmile for a group shot while attending the Family Equality Gala on May 12 in New York City. Erik Pendzich/Shutterstock Blake Sheltonjams out at NBC'sTODAYCiti Concert Series on May 13 in New York City. Rob Kim/Getty Justin Therouxwalks the blue carpet at the Webby Awards in New York City on May 12. Dia Dipasupil/Getty John Cenaand wifeShay Shariatzadehmatch in purple looks the Amazon Upfront on May 12 in New York City Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images Dave BautistaandJason Momoamake a grand arrival at the Amazon Upfront in New York City on May 12. XNY/Star Max/GC Images Lizzoshows off her new blonde hair at the Amazon Upfront in New York City on May 12. BFA.com/BACKGRID Jurnee SmollettandCiaracelebrate the grand opening of Tory Burch's new flagship store on Rodeo Drive in Los Angeles on May 12. BFA.com/BACKGRID Pauline Chalamet,Kate HudsonandJodie Turner-Smithlook chic at the opening of Tory Burch's new flagship store in Los Angeles on May 12. BG048/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images Ryan Reynoldsrocks a double-tan outfit onThe Late Show with Stephen Colberton May 12 in New York City. Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty Maren Morrisperforms onThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallonon May 12 in New York City Jacopo Raule/GC Images Eva Longoriaheads out of her hotel in Paris to the Cannes Film Festival on May 13. Anthony Harvey/Shutterstock Robert De Niroand girlfriendTiffany Chenarrive at the Cannes Film Festival in France on May 13. VALERY HACHE/AFP via Getty Halle Berrywaves to fans at the Cannes Film Festival on May 13. Ben Hider/PictureGroup for FOX/Shutterstock Tom Bradyshows off his famous football handling skills at the Fox Upfront in New York City on May 12. Stephanie Augello/PictureGroup for FOX/Shutterstock Elizabeth HurleyandBrendan Frasersmile at the Fox Upfront in New York City on May 12. Stephanie Augello/PictureGroup for FOX/Shutterstock Rob LoweandJon Hammpose together at the Fox Upfront in New York City on May 12. Paras Griffin/Getty Usherwears Emory University's robes as he gives their graduation commencement speech in Atlanta on May 12. Aissaoui Nacer / BACKGRID Halle Berryradiates movie star energy as she enters Hotel Martinez in Paris ahead of the Cannes Film Festival on May 12. Jeff Spicer/Getty Tom Cruisedons a classic suit with a patterned tie as he prepares for the BFI Fellowship celebration for him in London on May 12. Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images Days after hosting the ACM Awards,Reba McEntireflies to New York City for the NBCUniversal Upfront event on May 12. Raymond Hall/GC Images Snoop Dogg, in a bright blue tracksuit, carries a speaker as he entersWatch What Happens Live withAndy Cohenin New York City on May 12. Aeon/GC Images Lizzorocks full platinum blonde hair as she steps out in a black dress atWatch What Happens Livein New York City on May 12. Max Cisotti/Dave Benett/Getty Hannah Waddinghamglows on the red carpet at the BFI Chair's Dinner in London on May 12. Jacopo Raule/GC Images Bella Hadidgoes blonde as she arrives at her hotel ahead of Cannes Film Festival in France on May 12. Jamie McCarthy/Getty Gayle KingandNicole Scherzingerpop in vibrant colors at SiriusXM Studios in New York City on May 12. TheImageDirect.com Heidi Klumand her husbandTom Kaulitzmatch in black at the Cannes Film Festival in France on May 12. Rebecca J Michelson Andrew GarfieldandMonica Barbarovisit Isa Antonetti during a production ofBuena Vista Social Clubon Broadway in N.Y.C. on May 11. BACKGRID Kylie Jennerwears a pink bikini while enjoying the sun on the Turks and Caicos Islands on May 10. BFA for MCM A shadedDJ Khaledholds up the MCM x Snipes collaboration at a launch party held at We The Best x Snipes in Miami. Nina Fernandez/BFA.com Ashley Madekwe,Shea McGeeandJamie Chungare ready for the spring at An Evening with Tuckerknuck and Studio McGee in West Hollywood, California, on May 8. Myles Hendrik Jordan Chilestips her cowboy hat at an afterparty forBeyoncé'sCowboy Carter Tourin L.A. powered by SirDavis American Whisky, Marriott Bonvoy and EDITION on May 8. Xavi Torrent/Getty Terry Crewsshows off his biceps in Spotify, FC Barcelona andTravis Scott's Cactus Jack merchandise in Barcelona on May 10. Will Heath/NBC via Getty Walton Gogginsdelivers his opening monologue in hisSaturday Night Livehosting debut in New York City on May 10. Christopher Polk /@polkimaging Gwen Stefanigets ready to take the stage at Wango Tango in Huntington Beach, California, wearing all denim on May 10. Mike Marsland/Getty Jessie J, her sonSky, mom Rose Cornish and boyfriendChanan Safir Colmanhave a family day at The Wiggles' tour stop in London on May 9. Chris Haston/WBTV via Getty Abbott Elementary's William Stanford Davis stops byTheJennifer HudsonShowfor a May 12 episode in Burbank, California. BACKGRID A casualJennifer Lawrencetotes a big yellow bag on a stroll in New York City on May 11. Miikka Skaffari/Getty Daniel Dae Kimarrives at a closing night screening ofYellow Facein San Francisco on May 11. TheStewartofNY/GC Images Michelle Williams' character is pregnant forA Place in Hellscene in New York City on May 11. Amanda Edwards/Getty Harry Hamlinholds an acting masterclass at the SAG-AFTRA Foundation in Los Angeles on May 11. Valerie Terranova/Getty Nicole Scherzingerwears a bright pink biker jacket to the opening night ofThe Last Bimbo of the Apocalypsein New York City on May 11. BACKGRID Benson Booneand his girlfriendMaggie Thurmonhold hands on a day around Malibu, California, on May 11. Neil Mockford/FilmMagic HostAlan Cumminglooks dapper at the 2025 BAFTA TV Awards in London on May 11. Arnold Turner/Getty Amber Rosereps the Houston Rockets at theBaddies Africapremiere in West Hollywood, California, on May 11. Araya Doheny/Getty Megan Thee Stallionis a sheer beauty at the Gold Gala in Los Angeles on May 10. Olivia Wong/WireImage Also at the Gold Gala,H.E.R.sports a stylish pair of shades in Los Angeles on May 10. Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty Meghan Trainorprepares to head onstage in a jewel-studded two-piece at Wango Tango in Huntington Beach, California, on May 10. Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty Teddi Mellencamparrives in white to Wango Tango in Huntington Beach, California, on May 10. Phillip Faraone/Getty A blondeDoja Catstrikes a pose on the Wango Tango red carpet in Huntington Beach, California, on May 10. Emma McIntyre/Getty Yvette Nicole Brownand herhusbandAnthony Davisare happy to be at the Spring Break Gala in Los Angeles on May 10. TheStewartofNY/GC Images Dressed in a black dress,Michelle Monaghansteps out in the East Village in N.Y.C. on May 10. Al Bello/Getty Timothée Chalametcheers on the New York Knicks in game three against the Boston Celtics in N.Y.C. on May 10. Ralph Bavaro/Peacock via Getty Justin Therouxbundles up to attend thePoker Facepop-up with his dogKumain New York City on May 9. Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty SaweetiecelebratesKali Uchis' new albumSincerelyat a party in Hollywood, California, on May 9. Chris Haston/WBTV via Getty Taraji P. Hensonrocks an edgy look onThe Jennifer Hudson Showfor a May 9 episode in Burbank, California. Andreas Rentz/Getty Khloé Kardashiansparkles in sequins with an award at the German Perfume Award Duftstars in Dusseldorf, Germany, on May 8. Scott Garfitt/BAFTA via Getty Nicola Coughlanradiates old Hollywood glam at the 2025 BAFTA Television Awards in London on May 11. Shane Anthony Sinclair/Getty Tom Cruisespeaks as a guest at the British Film Institute's Southbank location in London on May 11. Marc Piasecki/GC Heidi Klumsmiles for the cameras while walking through the Nice Côte d'Azur Airport ahead of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival in France on May 11. Phillip Faraone/Getty Chanel ImanandVictoria Monétcelebrate a new Chasa collection at Porta Via in Beverly Hills, Calif., on May 9. Tim Whitby/BAFTA/Getty Alan Cummingattends the 2025 BAFTA Television Awards in a dazzling blue blazer and leopard print in London on May 11. Gregg DeGuire/Variety via Getty Viola Davisis joined by her daughter Genesis at the City Year Los Angeles' 14th annual Spring Break Gala held at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., on May 9. Phillip Faraone/Getty Meghan Trainormakes a glamorous appearance in a pink bow outfit and pearl set at iHeartRadio's 102.7 KIIS FM Wango Tango in Huntington Beach, Calif., on May 10. Gregg DeGuire/Variety via Getty Quinta Brunsonsmiles for the camera as she attends the City Year Los Angeles' Spring Break Gala in Inglewood, Calif., on May 9. Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images Mariska Hargitayposes with her son August for a photo as they arrive at the Knicks playoff game at Madison Square Garden in New York City on May 10. Ethan Miller/Getty Robert Irwinattends the Steve Irwin Gala held in honor of his late father to support the Wildlife Warriors conservationist organization at Las Vegas' Bellagio Resort & Casino on May 10. Tommaso Boddi/Getty John Legend,Chrissy Teigen,Sandra OhandTan Franceput on their finest ensembles as they attend the Founders Party at the Gold House Gold Gala on May 10 in Los Angeles. Todd Williamson/NBC Questlove,Fred Armisen,Dave GrohlandJudd Apatowattend the Ladies & Gentlemen...50 Years ofSNLMusic event at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles on May 10. Leon Bennett/Getty Amber Rileymodels a chic all-white look as she attends the Black Excellence Brunch by BET PLUS celebrating theUsher: Rendezvous in Parisconcert film on May 10 in Los Angeles. Jerod Harris/Getty Darren Barnet,Brenda Song,Ming-Na Wen, andHarry Shum Jr.pose for a photo as they attend the fourth annual Gold House Gold Gala on May 10 in Los Angeles. John Salangsang/Shutterstock Colton Underwoodspeaks onstage at the third annual Hollywood & Mind Summit on May 9 in Los Angeles. JC Olivera/WWD via Getty Victoria Monét attends Mother's Day Party With a Purpose presented by the Elaine Welteroth and birthFUND in L.A. on May 10. The Hapa Blonde/GC Mariska Hargitay looks effortlessly cool outside Madison Square Garden in N.Y.C. on May 10. Don Arnold/WireImage Tyra Banks strikes a pose while attending The Silver Party at The Hermitage in Sydney, Australia on May 10. Al Bello/Getty Ben Stiller sits courtside during a match between the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York City on May 10. JC Olivera/WWD via Getty Sophia Bush smiles wide at Mother's Day Party With a Purpose hosted by Elaine Welteroth and birthFUND in Los Angeles on May 10. Bruce Glikas/WireImage John Krasinski, Sarah Snook and Matt Damon pose backstage at the Broadway playThe Picture of Dorian Grayat The Music Box Theatre in New York City on May 9. Sebastian Reuter/Getty Billie Eilish speaks on stage during the Billie Eilish and Support+Feed Present: OVERHEATED Berlin event at Festsaal Kreuzberg in Berlin on May 9. The Hapa Blonde/GC Images Sarah Paulson makes a fashion forward appearance at the Miu Miu Tales and Tellers event at New York City's Terminal Warehouse on May 9. MediaPunch/Bauer-Griffin/GC Justin Hartley is dashing in a suit and shades as he is seen out in New York City on May 9. BACKGRID Hugh Jackmangreets fans after performing withElla Beattyin the off-Broadway playSexual Misconduct of the Middle Classeson May 8 in New York City. Ethan Miller/Getty Patti LaBelletakes to the stage on the opening night of The Queens! 4 Legends. 1 Stage Tour at the Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas on May 9. Amanda Edwards/Getty Shia LaBeoufattends the premiere and Q&A for his new filmHenry Johnsonin Santa Monica, Calif., on May 9. Ethan Miller/Getty Chaka Khangives a showstopping perfrormace onstage during the first night of The Queens! 4 Legends. 1 Stage Tour on May 9 in Las Vegas, Tibrina Hobson/Getty Amy Grantlights up the stage as she performs at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on May 9. Jesse Grant/Getty Jesse Metcalfespeaks onstage during day two of the Environmental Media Association IMPACT Summit 2025 presented By Toyota on May 9 in West Hollywood. Jason Mendez/Getty Buffy the Vampire Slayerco-stars Alyson Hannigan and Sarah Michelle Gellar reunite at the Sirius XM studios in New York City on May 9. BFA.com / BACKGRID Gwyneth Paltrow unveilsThe Forest Within, an immersive recreation of a Korean forest, in New York City on May 9. Aissaoui Nacer / BACKGRID Eva Longoria flashes a smile as she arrives at her hotel in Paris on May 9. Dave Benett/Getty Henry Golding grabs a quick bite at the Casting Directors' Luncheon in London on May 9. Dave Benett/Getty Lily Allenlooks chic at the Casting Directors' luncheon in London on May 9. BACKGRID Nina Dobrevand fiancéShaun Whitetake a stroll through New York City with their dog on May 9. Santi Ramales / BACKGRID Natasha Lyonnelooks gorgeous in a see-through dress after appearing onLate Night with Seth Meyerson May 9 in New York City. Jason Mendez/Getty Jeff Timmons, Justin Jeffre,Nick LacheyandDrew Lacheyof98 Degreesmake a stop at the Sirius XM Studios on May 9 in New York City. Randy Shropshire/Getty Tony Hawkhangs with pal Tony the Tiger at a celebration for his new video game,Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4in Los Angeles on May 8. Read the original article onPeople

byVS personal

in

May 14, 2025

Robert De Niro Hits the Cannes Red Carpet with Partner Tiffany Chen, Plus Eva Longoria, Selena Gomez and More

Robert De Niro Hits the Cannes Red Carpet with Partner Tiffany Chen, Plus Eva Longoria, Selena Gomez and More Stars have been everywhere thi...

Read More

The Cast of “Dawson's Creek”: See Where They Are Now, 22 Years After the Teen Drama Ended

The Cast of "Dawson's Creek": See Where They Are Now, 22 Years After the Teen Drama Ended

Columbia/TriStar International Television/Getty Dawson's Creekmay have come to an end 22 years ago, but fans old and new still love catching up with the gang from thefictional small town of Capeside. The popular WB teen drama aired its season finale on May 13, 2003, concluding the journeys of acore group of friendsas they experienced the ups and downs of friendship and romance in high school and college.Dawson's Creekwas also known for covering heavy issues like mental health, death and homophobia among typical teenage fare like prom dates, new friends and first love. James Van Der Beekled the ensemble cast as Dawson Leery, a wannabe filmmaker who has his heart set on his own happily ever after with one of his best friends, Joey Potter (Katie Holmes). Dawson's other best friend, Pacey Whitter (Joshua Jackson), and Capeside newbie Jen Lindley (Michelle Williams) put a crinkle in Dawson's carefully plotted-out future. With Paula Cole's "I Don't Want to Wait" as the theme song probably still stuck in your head,Dawson's Creekhelped launch its young stars into the spotlight. Twenty-two years after the finale ofDawson's Creekaired, here's what the cast is up to now. James Van Der Beek, who played the titular role of Dawson Leery, has filled most of his time since with TV pursuits, including ABC's comedyDon't Trust the B---- In Apartment 23,on which he played a version of himself — and scored a Teen Choice Award nomination, hearkening back to hisDawson'sdays. ThePoseactor now lives in Texas with his wife Kimberly and theirsix young kids: Olivia, Joshua, Annabel, Emilia, Gwendolyn and Jeremiah. In November 2024, he announced he had been diagnosed with colorectal cancer,though told PEOPLE, "There's reason for optimism, and I'm feeling good." Van Der Beek's costar Jackson said onThe Jennifer Hudson Showin April 2025 that his friend's diagnosis "brought the whole gang back together." He said theDawson's Creekcast is now in a group chat together. Fittingly for the woman who portrayed Capeside High valedictorian Joey Potter, Katie Holmes went back to school for a time, even attending the entertainment, media and sports program at Harvard University to further her skills for her production company, Noelle Productions Inc. Aside fromraising Suri(her daughter with ex-husbandTom Cruise), Holmes has devoted much of her time to film and TV, including multiple stintsportraying Jackie Kennedyand directing and co-writing the 2023 filmRare Objects. Holmes has harbored fondDawson'smemories, previously saying it was a "special show, and I loved every minute of it." Joshua Jackson, theFatal AttractionandDoctor Odysseystar, previously expressed that aDawson'sreboot would be "shocking" to fans. "We are not cute kids anymore," he joked onThe Ellen DeGeneres Showin 2016,perEW. "It's been a long time. I mean, we're holding up okay, but I think if you put the four of us now next to the four of us them, it might be a little shocking." In early 2023, he returned to Wilmington, N.C. — whereDawson's Creekwas filmed — to shoot a new series fromAva DuVernay. He also appeared inKarate Kid: Legendsin May 2025. Jackson, who played Pacey Witter in the series,wed Jodie Turner-Smithin 2019,though the pair split in 2023. Together they haveone child. Once Capeside's resident occasional bad girl, Michelle Williams has "made good" with a serious career on the big screen, earning several Oscar nominations, including a Best Actress nod in 2023 forSteven Spielberg'sThe Fabelmans. Williams is mom to daughterMatilda Rose, with late actorHeath Ledger,as well asthree childrenwith husband Thomas Kail. Hopes for aDawson'sreboot are also lost on the star, whose character, Jen Lindley, didn't make it to the series finale alive. "I would have to come back as a ghost — or put a lot of filters on the camera, and I'll do flashback scenes," she previously said. Columbia TriStar Television/courtesy Everett Collection; David Livingston/Getty Since her days playing high-strung Andie McPhee, Meredith Monroe has built her TV-acting résumé with recurring roles onCriminal Minds,Hart of Dixieand13 Reasons Why, and guest spots on a crop of other popular series. During a cast reunion interview, shetoldEntertainment Weeklyin 2018 that shooting the series in Wilmington "was like growing up together. I felt like I was so grateful that it was shooting in Wilmington. We all got to really connect in a way that I don't think we would have had we been in New York or L.A." Monroe married Steven Kavovit in 1999, and the pair have at least two kids. After playing Jack McPhee, Andie's older brother who comes to terms with his homosexuality throughout the series,Kerr Smithlanded roles onThe Fosters,LifeUnexpected,CharmedandRiverdale. Smith's favorite memory fromDawson'scomes from the actors' group trips to the beach. "In the summer, we as a cast would go to Masonboro Island [North Carolina]. We'd get out the grill and go Jet Skiing and swimming. It was the most fun I ever had in my life," he previously told PEOPLE. Off-screen, Smith was married to actress Harmoni Everett from 2003 to 2009. Courtesy Everett Collection; Allen Berezovsky/FilmMagic Busy Philipps, who played Joey Potter's college roommate, has stayed booked and busy on series likeCougar TownandGirls5eva. She also played Regina George's mom in the 2024 musical remake ofMean Girls. The actress has two children,Cricket and Birdie, withex-husband Marc Silverstein. Off-screen, she has remained close toDawson'sbestie, Williams; the pair havefrequented red carpets togetherand reunited for girls' hangouts. Columbia TriStar Television/courtesy Everett Collection; Bobby Bank/WireImage John Wesley Shippplayed Mitch Leery onDawson's Creek. During the cast's 2018 reunion,he recalled how the series' dialogue was groundbreaking for the times: "I remember a big star who shall remain nameless said to Kevin [Williamson, the show's creator], 'Young people don't talk like that,' " ShipptoldEntertainment Weekly. "Kevin said, 'Well, maybe not, but they'd like to.' We had a feeling that we were pioneering a different way of telling stories about young people." The actor, who was known for playing The Flash in the '90s, came back to the story for The CW series by the same name from 2014 to 2023. Courtesy Everett Collection; Araya Diaz/Getty Following her days playing Dawson's anchorwoman mom,Mary-Margaret Humeshas acted in several Hallmark and Lifetime TV movies. She toldEWshe happened to be with star Van Der Beek the first time he was ever asked for an autograph afterDawson's Creekpremiered. "He signed it and said, 'Oh my God, Mary-Margaret, that was my first!' And, of course, my thought was, 'Oh, honey, hang on,' " she said. Off-screen, Humes married Raul A. Bruce in 1992. Columbia TriStar Television/courtesy Everett Collection; Gregory Pace/Shutterstock Since playing big sis to Holmes' Joey,Nina Repetahas continued to act in various films and has sparked amusic career, singing everything from the blues to jazz. She is also involved in music therapy, singing jazz in local memory care units. "[It] has allowed me to have a front-row seat to the miraculous power of music," Repeta told PEOPLE. "Patients who have been unresponsive for weeks will light up and even sing along to tunes they recognize and love. It is, by far, one of the most fulfilling moments for me as an artist to use music therapy and see its results instantly." Repeta's son Banks Repeta, who she shares with husband Mike Repeta, has also followed in her footsteps by forging his own acting career with roles in 2021'sThe Black Phoneand 2022'sArmageddon Time, the latter of which earned him a Critics' Choice Awards nomination in 2023. "I do feel like I have passed the acting torch to our son Banks," Repeta told PEOPLE. "[At the Critics' Choice Awards], we got to hang out briefly with [Michelle] Williams and [Busy] Philipps at the ceremony. As long as he continues to enjoy it, I feel like he will continue his journey as a film actor." Courtesy Everett Collection; Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty I Jen's "Grams" has worked steadily in post-Dawson'syears: Mary Beth Peil had recurring roles onThe Good WifeandKaty Keeneand many turns on Broadway, including the Dowager Empress inAnastasia. When Williams was honored at the 2022 Gotham Awards, she used her time tothank Peil for influencing herand taking her under her wing. "Mary Beth Peil was the first artist that I had ever met in my life. She didn't call herself that, but there was something different about her," Williams said. "It was the way she asked questions, the way that she leaned into conversations, and how excited she seemed for every moment of every day on our TV set. And I didn't know what this ineffable quality was, but I knew I wanted to pull my chair closer to hers." In her personal life, Peil was married to Jerry Kirkbride, with whom she raised two children. The pair divorced in 1993, perThe New York Times. Read the original article onPeople

byVS personal

in

May 14, 2025

The Cast of “Dawson's Creek”: See Where They Are Now, 22 Years After the Teen Drama Ended

The Cast of "Dawson's Creek": See Where They Are Now, 22 Years After the Teen Drama Ended Columbia/TriStar International Telev...

Read More

Boy missing in floodwaters as heavy rain hits Virginia, western Maryland

Boy missing in floodwaters as heavy rain hits Virginia, western Maryland

Flash floods sparked by heavy rain hit parts of Virginia, western Maryland and Pennsylvania on Tuesday, leaving a 12-year-old boy missing in Virginia and forcing elementary schools in rural Maryland to evacuate, authorities said. Severe flooding has left parts of Meyersdale Borough in Somerset County underwater after heavy rains pounded the area on Tuesday. In amessage posted Tuesday nighton social media, the Albemarle County Fire Rescue service in Virginia said county police had received a call late in the afternoon about a boy being swept away by a flood-swollen creek. The fire department said search efforts had to be put on hold after about three hours, "due to limited visibility in the overnight hours and the safety of all those involved." The fire and rescue service said the search would resume on Wednesday, and it warned residents not to "self-deploy" in attempt to find the missing child as conditions remained dangerous. Another elementary school in the region was also evacuated, and students at a middle school were told to shelter in place for a while on Tuesday, according to the Allegany County Department of Emergency Services. Homes flooded in southern Pennsylvania Residents in low-lying areas of Meyersdale, near the Maryland border in Pennsylvania's Somerset County, were ordered to evacuate Tuesday as the Casselman River rose precipitously. "We are seeing flooding in the majority of the houses in town," Meyersdale Mayor Shane Smith said, according toKDKA, CBS Pittsburgh. "Some even as high as the first floor. Roads throughout the area are being destroyed by the fast-moving water… This is some of the most severe flooding we've ever seen." Smith declared a state of emergency for Meyersdale. He said there were no reported injuries, and that both federal and state emergency management personnel were expected in the town on Wednesday to help coordinate the response. There were also reports of flood and storm related road closures and some damage in Bedford and Campbell Counties in Virginia, and a hospital being partially flooded in eastern Tennessee, near the Virginia state line. Authorities said two women had to be rescued from an inundated vehicle on a washed out road in Bedford Rural western Maryland schools forced to evacuate About 100 miles north, in the far western corner of Maryland, the North Branch Potomac River and some tributaries burst their banks on Tuesday, forcing the evacuation of schools and businesses. According toKDKA, about 150 students and 50 adults had to be evacuated from the Westernport Elementary School. The floodwaters rose so quickly and entered the building that brothers William and Quinton Wade were left trapped inside with dozens of others. "Whenever we were going down to get in the boat, the first floor was flooded," Quinton, a second-grader at the school, told KDKA. "The first floor had been flooded all the way to the ceiling," added William, who is in fourth grade. "I didn't get any call from the school. I didn't know any plan. I didn't know anything. So, my instinct was, get my kids," the boys' mother Alley Wade told KDKA. She said she rushed from her job to the school, but found the water too high for her to do anything, so she waited while the rescuers in boats saved her kids and dozens of others. Alley Wade said she had never seen such severe flooding in their town. "I have never. Now, I believe there was a bad flood in 1996, but I was 4," she said. While the Wades' home was unscathed, some homes and businesses in Westernport were inundated Tuesday after hours of heavy rain. In a statement released in the early Wednesday morning hours, Maryland Governor Wes Moore urged people in the affected region to "remain vigilant, heed warnings from local officials, and prioritize safety during this time," adding: "If you don't have to go out, please do not go out. Stay off the roads if possible and heed any evacuation orders." According to the governor's office, parts of Allegany County had already seen at least 4.65 inches of rain in 24 hours, and more rain was expected into Wednesday morning. The statement said the North Branch Potomac River in Cumberland was expected to peak at 22.6 feet Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, "which would mark the highest river crest since 1996." "We remain in close contact with local officials and continue to coordinate resources as the rain continues to fall," Moore said in the statement. The flooding comes on the heels of a newstudyby the climate science group World Weather Attribution, published this week, that found deadly storms that tore through eight U.S. states in the Midwest and South in the first week of April, killing at least24 people, were made significantly worse by human-causedclimate change. Thegroup said its analysisshowed that human-caused global warming made therecord-breaking downpoursabout 9% heavier than they would otherwise have been. Annual inflation rate in April hits lowest level since 2021, but still higher than Fed's goal Reporter's Notebook: Gen Z feels the weight of constant distraction How a Colorado coal town is revitalizing itself through art

byVS personal

in

May 14, 2025

Boy missing in floodwaters as heavy rain hits Virginia, western Maryland

Boy missing in floodwaters as heavy rain hits Virginia, western Maryland Flash floods sparked by heavy rain hit parts of Virginia, western M...

Read More

Extreme heat could make pregnancy riskier for millions of women: Report

Extreme heat could make pregnancy riskier for millions of women: Report

As human-induced climate change continues warming the planet, pregnancy risks are increasing, according to anew analysis by Climate Central. Climate Central, a nonprofit science and communications organization, analyzed daily temperature data from 2020 to 2024 in 940 cities across 247 counties and territories. Researchers looked for "extreme heat days," which are defined by temperatures that go beyond what's normal in the area 95% of the time. MORE: How does extreme heat impact pregnancy? Study links heat waves to early births The high temperatures are associated with an increased risk of preterm birth and threats to maternal health; therefore, Climate Central has coined the phrase "pregnancy heat-risk days." Over the last four years, nearly one-third of the countries that Climate Central surveyed experienced at least one additional month of pregnancy heat-risk days on average, according to the new report. For most of those countries, the pregnancy heat-risk days doubled -- a pattern that can be linked to climate change, researchers showed. "Even a single day of extreme heat can raise the risk of serious pregnancy complications," said Climate Central's vice president of science, Kristina Dahl, in a statement. "Climate change is increasing extreme heat and stacking the odds against healthy pregnancies worldwide, especially in places where care is already hard to access." MORE: Climate change brings health issues, challenges for pregnant women Extreme heat can increase the risks of pregnancy complications and is linked to high blood pressure, diabetes, hospitalizations, premature births or even death, according to major health organizations such as theWorld Health Organizationand theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention. The United States has experienced an increase of 12 pregnancy heat-risk days each year on average. The analysis found that West Palm Beach, Florida, experienced the most significant increase in pregnancy heat-risk days in the U.S. -- jumping 48% between 2020 and 2024. Going by state, Utah saw the biggest increase, with 23 additional days, a 72% increase since 2020. The analysis also found that all of Hawaii's pregnancy heat-risk days can be attributed to climate change. In other words, pregnant people living in Hawaii would never have been subjected to the risk of extreme heat if not for the changing climate. "Extreme heat is now one of the most pressing threats to pregnant people worldwide, pushing more pregnancies into high-risk territory, especially in places already struggling with limited healthcare access," said Dr. Bruce Bekkar, a women's health physician and expert on how climate change impacts human health. "Cutting fossil fuel emissions isn't just good for the planet — it's a crucial step toward protecting pregnant people and newborns around the world," Bekkar said. MORE: Climate change has many Americans reconsidering having children: POLL After West Palm Beach, the cities rounding out the five hardest-hit in nation's states and territories are: Miami, Florida; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Odessa, Texas; and Salt Lake City, Utah. After Utah, the hardest-hit states are: Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Hawaii. The analysis by Climate Central has not been peer-reviewed, and it does not differentiate between different types of pregnancy complications. Extreme heat could make pregnancy riskier for millions of women: Reportoriginally appeared onabcnews.go.com

byVS personal

in

May 14, 2025

Extreme heat could make pregnancy riskier for millions of women: Report

Extreme heat could make pregnancy riskier for millions of women: Report As human-induced climate change continues warming the planet, pregna...

Read More

Syrian leader Sharaa's path from global jihad to Trump meeting

Syrian leader Sharaa's path from global jihad to Trump meeting

By Tom Perry and Timour Azhari (Reuters) - Syria's Ahmed al-Sharaa has transformed himself from al Qaeda militant to Syrian president in a dramatic political rise capped on Wednesday by a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. The encounter in Saudi Arabia is a milestone for a man who joined al Qaeda in Iraq around the time of the 2003 U.S.-led invasion and spent years in U.S. prison there before returning to Syria to join the insurgency against Bashar al-Assad. The meeting - following Trump's announcement of an end to U.S. sanctions on Syria - is a huge boost for Sharaa as he tries to bring the fractured country under his control and revive its economy, and Trump said he was looking to normalise ties with Damascus. Sharaa took power after his Islamist fighters launched an offensive from their enclave in the northwest in 2024 and toppled Assad, whose allies Russia and Iran were distracted by other wars. He was long better known as Abu Mohammad al-Golani, his nom de guerre as commander of the Nusra Front, an insurgent group fighting Assad and for years al Qaeda's official wing in the conflict. He cut ties with al Qaeda in 2016, gradually recasting his group as part of the Syrian revolution rather than global jihad. Sharaa swapped combat fatigues for suits and ties after entering Damascus as Syria's de facto ruler in December 2024, promising to replace Assad's brutal police state with an inclusive and just order. He cited priorities including reuniting Syria, reviving an economy choked by sanctions and bringing arms under state authority. His administration won significant backing from Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. But he has struggled to meet his aims as armed groups kept their weapons, sanctions remained and sectarian killings left minority groups afraid of his rule. Israel, alleging Sharaa remains a jihadist, has declared south Syria off limits to his forces. It said a strike near the presidential palace in Damascus on May 2 was a warning that it would not let Syrian forces deploy south of the capital or allow any threat to Syria's Druze minority. The challenges were laid bare in March when Assad loyalists attacked government forces in the coastal region, prompting a wave of revenge killing in which Islamist gunmen killed hundreds of civilians from the Alawite minority, from which Assad hailed. It amplified fears about the jihadist roots of Syria's new ruling group despite Sharaa's promises of tolerance and accountability for the killings. Fears of a slide back towards authoritarian rule were hardened by a temporary constitution focusing power in his hands. SHARIA LAW Sharaa characterised Assad's defeat as a God-given victory. He sidestepped interviewers' questions on whether he thought Syria should apply Islamic sharia law, saying it was for experts to decide. The temporary constitution strengthened its role. He cited revolutionary legitimacy for his designation as interim president. He has said elections will take place, but that Syria needs up to five years to organise them properly. In a Reuters interview at the presidential palace, Sharaa underlined his intention to turn the page on Assad's rule. "My chest tightens in this palace. I'm astonished by how much evil against society emanated from every corner," he said. Sharaa was born in Saudi Arabia, where he spent the first years of his life before moving to Syria. His father was an Arab nationalist, an ideology at odds with Sharaa's political Islam. In a 2021 interview with the U.S. Public Broadcasting Service's FRONTLINE programme, Sharaa said he was influenced by the second Palestinian Intifada, or uprising against Israeli occupation, which began in 2000. He returned to Syria from Iraq once the uprising began, sent by the leader of the al Qaeda-affiliated Islamic State group in Iraq at the time, Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, to build up al Qaeda's presence. The U.S. designated Sharaa a terrorist in 2013, saying al Qaeda in Iraq had tasked him with overthrowing Assad's rule and establishing Islamic sharia law in Syria. It said the Nusra Front had carried out suicide attacks that killed civilians and espoused a violent sectarian vision. Sharaa gave his first media interview in 2013, his face wrapped in a scarf and showing his back to the camera. He told Al Jazeera Syria should be run according to sharia law. In his 2021 FRONTLINE interview, he faced the camera in a shirt and jacket. He said the terrorist designation was unfair and that he opposed the killing of innocent people. Asked about his views on the September 11 attacks at the time they happened, Sharaa said anybody in the Arab or Islamic world who said "he wasn't happy would be lying to you, because people felt the injustice of the Americans in their support of the Zionists, their policies towards Muslims in general, and their clear and strong support of the tyrants in the region". "But people regret the killing of innocent people, for sure," he said. The Nusra Front had never presented a threat to the West, he said. Despite its al Qaeda ties, Nusra was regarded as relatively less heavy handed in dealings with civilians and other rebel groups than Islamic State. (Writing by Tom Perry, Editing by William Maclean and Timothy Heritage)

byVS personal

in

May 14, 2025

Syrian leader Sharaa's path from global jihad to Trump meeting

Syrian leader Sharaa's path from global jihad to Trump meeting By Tom Perry and Timour Azhari (Reuters) - Syria's Ahmed al-Sharaa ha...

Read More

NYT ‘Connections’ Hints and Answers Today, Wednesday, May 14

NYT 'Connections' Hints and Answers Today, Wednesday, May 14

Spoilers ahead! We've warned you. We mean it. Read no further until youreallywant some clues or you've completely given up and want the answers ASAP. Get ready for all of today'sNYT 'Connections' hints and answers for #703 on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. If you've been having trouble with any of theconnections or wordsin Tuesday's puzzle, you're not alone and these hints should definitely help you out. Plus, I'll reveal the answers further down.Related:The 26 Funniest NYT Connections Game Memes You'll Appreciate if You Do This Daily Word Puzzle 1. Certain actions2. They are common ways to begin certain words3. Related to certain movies4. They all begin in similar ways Related:300 Trivia Questions and Answers to Jumpstart Your Fun Game NightReady for the answers? Scroll below this image (the image that represents your very appreciatedpatience!). 1.ABSORB USING CAPILLARY ACTION: DRAW, PULL, SUCK, WICK2.GREEK PREFIXES: HYPER, KILO, META, NEO3.TITULAR TALKING ANIMALS OF FILM: BABE, BOLT, DUMBO, TED4.STARTING WITH SILENT LETTERS: GNOME, KNEE, MNEMONIC, PSYCHEHow'd you do?Up Next:-15 Fun Games Like Connections to Play Every Day-Hints, Clues and Answers to the NYT's 'Mini Crossword' PuzzleDid You Miss a Few Days?Let's Catch You Up With Recent Connections Answers

byVS personal

in

May 14, 2025

NYT ‘Connections’ Hints and Answers Today, Wednesday, May 14

NYT 'Connections' Hints and Answers Today, Wednesday, May 14 Spoilers ahead! We've warned you. We mean it. Read no further until...

Read More

Michael Strahan Gives Unfiltered Response to Possibly Competing on 'DWTS'

Michael Strahan Gives Unfiltered Response to Possibly Competing on 'DWTS'

Michael Strahanisn't ready to put his dancing shoes on anytime soon. The former NFL player was recently presented with a proposition fromDancing with the StarshostAlfonso Ribeiro, who asked Strahan during anappearance onGood Morning Americaif he would ever think about competing on the popular ballroom dancing competition show. 🎬SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox🎬 While chatting with Strahan'sGMAco-hostsRobin Roberts,Lara SpencerandGeorge Stephanopoulosduring the Tuesday, May 13 broadcast, Ribeiro was asked if there are any stars from the sports industry that he would personally like to see hit the dance floorthis season. "Don't be pointing at me," Strahan, 53, said, while Ribeiro replied, "I think if there was a guy who played for the Giants at one point... he would bring the whole New York audience..." Strahan then got up from his chair to briefly show off some dance moves, before telling Ribeiro, "That's as much as you're getting." "We need you, buddy," Ribeiro, 53, then added, promising, "We'll get you a tall dancer to dance with you so it won't look so awkward." "You know what I love aboutDancing with the Stars?" Strahan asked, before quipping, "When they come here, and I just get to interview them, and I don't have to dance. That's the best part." He then insisted that his "joints are too old and brittle" to be busting out the serious dance moves. "This is the thing; this is what scared me. Every professional football player and athlete who has been on the show said it was the hardest thing they've ever done. If it was harder than football was for me, I cannot fathom it at this point in my life," Strahan explained. While a run onDWTSdoesn't seem to be in the cards for Strahan, he did suggest that Stephanopoulos "would do it"—so there's stillsomehope forGMAfans! Related: Michael Strahan Suffers a 'Mix-Up' on 'Good Morning America'

byVS personal

in

May 14, 2025

Michael Strahan Gives Unfiltered Response to Possibly Competing on 'DWTS'

Michael Strahan Gives Unfiltered Response to Possibly Competing on 'DWTS' Michael Strahanisn't ready to put his dancing shoes on...

Read More

Today’s NYT ‘Strands’ Hints, Spangram and Answers for Wednesday, May 14

Today's NYT 'Strands' Hints, Spangram and Answers for Wednesday, May 14

Move over,Wordle,ConnectionsandMini Crossword—there's a new NYT word game in town! The New York Times's recent game, "Strands," is becoming more and more popular as another daily activity fans can find on the NYT website and app.With daily themes and "spangrams" to discover, this is the latest addicting game to cross off your to-do list before a new one pops up 24 hours later.We'll cover exactly how to play Strands, hints for today's spangram and all of the answers for Strands #437 on Wednesday, May 14.Related:16 Games Like Wordle To Give You Your Word Game Fix More Than Once Every 24 Hours According to the New York Times, here's exactly how to play Strands: Find theme words to fill the board. Theme words stay highlighted in blue when found. Drag or tap letters to create words. If tapping, double tap the last letter to submit. Theme words fill the board entirely. No theme words overlap. Find the "spangram." The spangram describes the puzzle's theme and touches two opposite sides of the board. It may be two words. The spangram highlights in yellow when found. An example spangram with corresponding theme words: PEAR, FRUIT, BANANA, APPLE, etc. Need a hint? Find non-theme words to get hints. For every 3 non-theme words you find, you earn a hint. Hints show the letters of a theme word. If there is already an active hint on the board, a hint will show that word's letter order. Related:300 Trivia Questions and Answers to Jumpstart Your Fun Game Night A hint for today's Strands game might be:Dance-related. Warning: Spoilers ahead!In today's puzzle, there are six theme words to find (including the spangram). Here are the first two letters for each word: MA HU WO FO LO LI (SPANGRAM) Today's spangram is vertical.Related:The 26 Funniest NYT Connections Game Memes You'll Appreciate if You Do This Daily Word Puzzle Today's spangram answer on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, is LINEDANCE. MACARENA HUSTLE WOBBLE FOOTLOOSE LOCOMOTION Up Next: Related: 15 Fun Games Like Connections to Play Every Day

byVS personal

in

May 14, 2025

Today’s NYT ‘Strands’ Hints, Spangram and Answers for Wednesday, May 14

Today's NYT 'Strands' Hints, Spangram and Answers for Wednesday, May 14 Move over,Wordle,ConnectionsandMini Crossword—there'...

Read More

Live updates: After a lavish Saudi welcome, Trump to meet Syria's new leader before going to Qatar

Live updates: After a lavish Saudi welcome, Trump to meet Syria's new leader before going to Qatar

PresidentDonald Trumpis to meet with the new Syrian leader, a onetime insurgent, before wrapping up his visit to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday and heading to Qatar, the second leg of histhree-nation Middle East tourthis week. Trump received a lavish welcome on Tuesday in Riyadh, where he announced he would move to lift sanctions on Syria to give the country "a chance at peace." He also focused on dealmaking with the kingdom, a key Mideast ally, and touched on shared concerns aboutIran's nuclear programand thewar in Gaza. Trump said the rapprochement with Syria came at the urging of Saudi Crown PrinceMohammed bin Salmanand Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. "There is a new government that will hopefully succeed," Trump said of Syria, adding, "I say good luck, Syria. Show us something special." Trump alsourged Iran to take a "new and a better path"as he pushes for a new nuclear deal and said he wanted to avoid conflict with Tehran. Trump and Prince Mohammed, the kingdom's de facto ruler, signed a host of economic and bilateral agreements. Here's the Latest: Syrians cheer Trump's announcement on sanctions Syrians cheered Trump's announcement that America will move to lift sanctions on the beleaguered Middle East nation. People in the capital, Damascus, whistled and cheered the news as fireworks lit the night sky. The state-run SANA news agency published video and photographs of Syrians cheering in Umayyad Square. Others honked their car horns or waved the new Syrian flag in celebration. Trump's planned meeting with the country's rebel-turned-leader Ahmad al-Sharaa represents a remarkable political turnaround for Syria, which has been locked in a bitter war since the 2011 Arab Spring. In December, rebels led by al-Sharaa toppled Syrian autocrat Bashar Assad's government. Al-Sharaa, who was imprisoned in Iraq for his role in the insurgency following the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, will be the first Syrian leader to meet an American president since Hafez Assad met Bill Clinton in Geneva in 2000. ▶Read more aboutsanctions on Syria From a former insurgent who led Assad's overthrow to a meeting with Trump The U.S. once offered $10 million for information about the whereabouts of the insurgent then known by the nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Golani. He had joined the ranks of al-Qaida insurgents battling U.S. forces in Iraq after the U.S.-led invasion in 2003 and still faces a warrant for his arrest on terrorism charges in Iraq. Syria's new president came back to his home country after the conflict began in 2011, and led al-Qaida's branch that used to be known as the Nusra Front. He later changed the name of his group and cut links with al-Qaida before they finally succeeded in overthrowing President Bashar Assad in December. Syrian's interim government hails US sanction decision Syria's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday night called Trump's statement about the sanctions a pivotal turning point for the Syrian people as they "seek to emerge from a long and painful chapter of war." The statement also was careful to describe the sanctions as coming "in response to the war crimes committed by the Assad regime against the Syrian people," rather than the war-torn nation's new interim government. "The removal of these sanctions offers a vital opportunity for Syria to pursue stability, self-sufficiency and meaningful national reconstruction, led by and for the Syrian people," the statement added. Yemen's Houthi rebels likely fired another missile at Israel The Israeli military issued a statement on Wednesday morning announcing the missile fire from Yemen after sirens sounded in the country. "A missile launched from Yemen was intercepted," the Israeli military said. "Sirens were sounded in accordance with protocol." The Houthis had launched another missile just after Trump addressed an investment summit in Riyadh on Tuesday. Trump had earlier announced a ceasefire between America and the rebel group. The Houthis have been attacking Israel over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip and Israel's decision to bar aid to the beleaguered Palestinian enclave. The Iranian-backed rebels also are locked in a stalemated war with a Saudi-led coalition backing the country's long-exiled government. The Houthis did not immediately claim the attack, though it can take hours or even days for them to acknowledge an assault. New Zealand tells its travelers to the US to expect more 'scrutiny' at America's border The foreign ministry bolstered its travel cautions for New Zealanders visiting the United States, the first such update since Trump took office, officials said Wednesday. The travel advice hadn't been fully updated since 2023, the statement said. Language added to the guidance for U.S.-bound travelers included an alert that visitors "may encounter scrutiny from U.S. border authorities," including inspection of their travel documents, reason for travel and personal belongings. It also warned travelers to "expect strict enforcement" of entry conditions and caution of "detention, deportation and ban from re-entry" if travelers don't comply.

byVS personal

in

May 14, 2025

Live updates: After a lavish Saudi welcome, Trump to meet Syria's new leader before going to Qatar

Live updates: After a lavish Saudi welcome, Trump to meet Syria's new leader before going to Qatar PresidentDonald Trumpis to meet with ...

Read More

China, Colombia sign Belt and Road cooperation pact

China, Colombia sign Belt and Road cooperation pact

BEIJING (Reuters) - China and Colombia have signed a joint cooperation plan on the Belt and Road Initiative, state media said on Wednesday after their leaders met in Beijing. Burgeoning commerce in recent years has helped grow Beijing's influence in Latin America and the Caribbean, a region of strategic significance for the United States. China is Colombia's second largest trading partner after the United States, which it recently displaced as Colombia's largest source of imports. China is ready to import more high-quality products from Colombia, back its firms in investing and doing business there and join in infrastructure construction, President Xi Jinping told counterpart Gustavo Petro, the Xinhua news agency said. On Monday Petro said Colombia would join the Belt and Road Initiative launched by Xi in 2013 to recreate the ancient Silk Road and build China's trade and infrastructure links with the world. More than 20 Latin American nations are among the more than 150 countries participating in the programme, but in February Panama said it was exiting from the pact, a move China blamed on pressure from the United States. Petro, who took over in August 2022, made his first trip to China as president in October 2023, upgrading to a strategic partnership two-way ties first established in 1980. (Reporting by Beijing Newsroom; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Clarence Fernandez)

byVS personal

in

May 14, 2025

China, Colombia sign Belt and Road cooperation pact

China, Colombia sign Belt and Road cooperation pact BEIJING (Reuters) - China and Colombia have signed a joint cooperation plan on the Belt ...

Read More

British banking analyst sentenced to a decade in Saudi prison, apparently over a tweet

British banking analyst sentenced to a decade in Saudi prison, apparently over a tweet

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A British Bank of America analyst has been sentenced to a decade in a Saudi Arabian prison apparently over a since-deleted social media post, according to his lawyer. The family of Ahmed al-Doush believes the charges against him stemmed from a deleted 2018 tweet about Sudan that did not mention Saudi Arabia and his relationship with the son of a Saudi critic in exile, Amnesty International said in a statement Tuesday. Saudi Arabia's press office and the United Kingdom's Foreign Office didn't respond to requests for comment. He was sentenced Monday after being accused of violating terrorism and anti-cyber crime laws. "The exact tweet is unknown," Haydee Dijkstal, al-Doush's international counsel, posted Tuesday on X, the platform formerly called Twitter. "His trial and detention involved fair trial & due process violations. The UK Gov should stand firmly against a British national's imprisonment for allegedly exercising his free speech rights." The 41-year-old British national was arrested in August at a Riyadh airport while trying to travel to Manchester, England, with his family. His wife has since given birth to their fourth child. "I rarely speak to my husband, but in the few snatched conversations we have managed, it is clear that Ahmed is struggling," al-Doush's wife, Amaher Nour, said ahead of her husband's sentencing, citing his thyroid problems and distress after nine months of being jailed. The developments came whileU.S. President Donald Trumpwas in Saudi Arabia, where several dual nationals with Western ties and Saudis have been detained in recent years over social media posts that could be viewed as critical to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the country's de facto ruler.

byVS personal

in

May 14, 2025

British banking analyst sentenced to a decade in Saudi prison, apparently over a tweet

British banking analyst sentenced to a decade in Saudi prison, apparently over a tweet DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A British Bank of ...

Read More