Will Smith Shares NSFW Photo in Honor of the 26th Anniversary of “Wild Wild West ”

Will Smith Shares NSFW Photo in Honor of the 26th Anniversary of "Wild Wild West "

Murray Close/Getty Will Smith shared a hilarious throwback photo in honor of the 26th anniversary ofWild Wild West The steampunk action comedy film was released in 1999, and co-starred Kevin Kline, Salma Hayek, and more Smith previously said thatWild Wild Westwas his "worst" film Will Smithis keeping the west wild. In honor ofWild Wild West's 26th anniversary, Smith, 56, shared a cheeky still from the film in which he was clad in nothing but a strategically placed cowboy hat. The actor captioned the June 30 Instagram photo: "Wild Wild West came out 26 years ago today- sorry this is the only photo I could find." One user wrote in the comments, "My favorite scene. Explanation not needed." Another wrote, "You were one of my early childhood crushes. Well done on on building a career that truly had and still has an impact. 💜✨" Murray Close/Getty Wild Wild Westwas released in 1999. The film, directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, was loosely based on the 1960s CBS show of the same name created by Michael Garrison. The film followed two secret service agents (Smith and Kevin Kline) as they protect President Ulysses S. Grant from the growing unpredictable threats of the American western frontier. Smith once referred toWild Wild Westas his worst film. In a 2021 interview withGQ,the actor answered a question about what he thinks is his best film and his worst film. He said, "For the best, I think it's a tie between the firstMen in BlackandPursuit of Happiness. For different reasons, those are the two almost-perfect movies." 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. As for the worst, he said, "I don't know,Wild Wild Westis a thorn in my side." "To see myself in chaps… I don't like it," he added, laughing. The choice to star inWild Wild Westcame the same time he wasoffered the role of Neo inThe Matrix. Smith turned down the role in the film, which turned out to be a mega-hit, to do the steampunk Western action comedy.Keanu Reeveswent on to star inThe Matrixin his place. Read the original article onPeople

byAlpha World

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June 30, 2025

Will Smith Shares NSFW Photo in Honor of the 26th Anniversary of “Wild Wild West ”

Will Smith Shares NSFW Photo in Honor of the 26th Anniversary of "Wild Wild West " Murray Close/Getty Will Smith shared a hilariou...

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Rosie O’Donnell Calls Out Oprah for Attending Jeff Bezos’ Wedding: ‘How Is That Possible? He Treats His Employees With Disdain… He Is Not a Nice Man’

Rosie O'Donnell Calls Out Oprah for Attending Jeff Bezos' Wedding: 'How Is That Possible? He Treats His Employees With Disdain… He Is Not a Nice Man'

Rosie O'Donnell wrote in an Instagram post that she was sickened by Jeff Bezos' lavish wedding to Lauren Sanchez in Venice, Italy. The days-long event featured a ton of A-list celebrities, from Sydney Sweeney to Leonardo DiCaprio, and promptedwidespread backlashand protests from Venice locals. "The Bezos' wedding. It turned my stomach seeing all these billionaires gathering in the gross excess of it all. The show of it," O'Donnell wrote before calling out Oprah for her attendance at the event. More from Variety Italian Press Plays Up 'No Space for Bezos' Versus 'Welcome, Mr. Amazon!' Plus a Bomb-Sniffing Dog Named Elvis The Jeff Bezos-Lauren Sanchez Wedding Extravaganza Is the Ultimate Billionaire Flex by a Couple Flying Above Cost-Cutting Times Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Forge Ahead With Venice Wedding After Activists Threaten to Block a Canal With Inflatable Crocodiles "Is Oprah friends with Jeff Bezos? Really? How is that possible? He treats his employees with disdain. By any metric he is not a nice man. And his fake fem bot wife who looks like that… Why would he choose her after the salt of the earth Mackenzie [Scott]? Sold his soul is what it looks like from here. The devil is smiling at all his conquests." Oprah attended the Bezos wedding with longtime friend Gayle King, who is well-acquainted with Sanchez after theirspace flight togetherearlier this year courtesy of Bezos' Blue Origin company. O'Donnell expanded on her anti-Bezos thoughts in a post on her Substack page. Other celebrities who criticized the Bezos wedding include Oscar winner Charlize Theron, whomade a quipabout Bezos' wedding guests while hosting her annual party for the Africa Outreach Project. She told attendees: "I think we might be the only people who did not get an invite to the Bezos wedding. But that's ok because they suck and we're cool." O'Donnellmade headlinesearlier this year for revealing she fled America after the re-election of Donald Trump. She currently lives in Ireland and toldVarietyshe has no plans on returning to the U.S. until Trump is out of office. "With the current political climate, when would it be safe to come back with my child?" she asked. "I'm not going to push it before this administration is completely finished, and hopefully held accountable for their crimes." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rosie O'Donnell (@rosie) Best of Variety Oscars 2026: George Clooney, Jennifer Lopez, Julia Roberts, Wagner Moura and More Among Early Contenders to Watch New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? Sign up forVariety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us onFacebook,Twitter, andInstagram.

byAlpha World

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June 30, 2025

Rosie O’Donnell Calls Out Oprah for Attending Jeff Bezos’ Wedding: ‘How Is That Possible? He Treats His Employees With Disdain… He Is Not a Nice Man’

Rosie O'Donnell Calls Out Oprah for Attending Jeff Bezos' Wedding: 'How Is That Possible? He Treats His Employees With Disdain… ...

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Iowa's civil rights protections no longer include gender identity as new law takes effect

Iowa's civil rights protections no longer include gender identity as new law takes effect

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa became the first stateto remove gender identityfrom its civil rights code under a law that took effect Tuesday, meaning transgender and nonbinary residents are no longer protected from discrimination in their job, housing and other aspects of life. The law also explicitly defines female and male based onreproductive organs at birthand removes the ability for people to change the sex designation on their birth certificate. An unprecedented take-back of legal rights after nearly two decades in Iowa code leaves transgender, nonbinary and potentially even intersex Iowans more vulnerable now than they werebefore. It's a governing doctrine now widely adopted byPresident Donald Trumpand Republican-led states despite themainstream medical viewthat sex and gender are better understood as a spectrum than as an either-or definition. When Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds signed Iowa's new law, she said the state's previous civil rights code "blurred the biological line between the sexes." "It's common sense to acknowledge the obvious biological differences between men and women. In fact, it's necessary to secure genuine equal protection for women and girls," she said in a video statement. Also taking effect Tuesday are provisions in the state's health and human services budget that say Medicaid recipients are no longer covered for gender-affirming surgery or hormone therapy. A national movement Iowa's state Capitol filled with protesters as the law went through the Republican-controlled Legislature and to Reynolds' desk in justone week in February. Iowa Republicans said laws passed in recent yearsto restrict transgender students' useof bathrooms and locker rooms,and their participation on sports teams, could not coexist with a civil rights code that includes gender identity protections. Abouttwo dozen other statesand the Trump administration have advanced restrictions on transgender people. Republicans say such laws andexecutive actionsprotect spaces for women, rejecting the idea that people can transition to another gender. Many face court challenges. About two-thirds of U.S. adultsbelieve that whether a person is a man or woman is determined by biological characteristics at birth, an Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll conducted in May found. But there's less consensus on policies that target transgender and nonbinary people. Transgender people say those kinds of policies deny their existence and capitalize on prejudice for political gain. In a major setback for transgender rights nationwide, the U.S. Supreme Court last monthupheld Tennessee's banon puberty blockers and hormone treatments fortransgender minors. The court's conservative majority said it doesn't violate the Constitution's equal protection clause, which requires the government to treat similarly situated people the same. Not every state includes gender identity in their civil rights code, but Iowa was the first to remove nondiscrimination protections based on gender identity, according to the Movement Advancement Project, an LGBTQ+ rights think tank. Incidents of discrimination in Iowa, before and after July 1 Iowans will still have time to file a complaint with the state Office of Civil Rights about discrimination based on gender identity that occurred before the law took effect. State law requires a complaint to be submitted within 300 days after the most recent incident of alleged discrimination. That means people have until April 27 to file a complaint about discrimination based on gender identity, according to Kristen Stiffler, the office's executive director. Sixty-five such complaints were filed and accepted for investigation from July 2023 through the end of June 2024, according to Stiffler. Forty-three were filed and accepted from July 1, 2024, through June 19 of this year. Iowa state Rep. Aime Wichtendahl, a Democrat and the state's first openly transgender lawmaker, fears the law will lead to an increase in discrimination for transgender Iowans. "Anytime someone has to check your ID and they see that the gender marker doesn't match the appearance, then that opens up hostility, discrimination as possibilities," Wichtendahl said, naming examples such as applying for a job, going through the airport, buying beer or getting pulled over in a traffic stop. "That instantly outs you. That instantly puts you on the spot." About half of U.S. states include gender identity in their civil rights code to protect against discrimination in housing and public places, such as stores or restaurants, according to the Movement Advancement Project. Some additional states do not explicitly protect against such discrimination, but it is included in legal interpretations of statutes. Five years ago,the U.S. Supreme Court ruledLGBTQ people are protected by a landmark federal civil rights law that prohibits sex discrimination in the workplace. But Iowa's Supreme Courthas expressly rejectedthe argument that discrimination based on sex includes discrimination based on gender identity. Changing Iowa birth certificates before the law took effect The months between when the bill was signed into law and when it took effect gave transgender Iowans time to pursue amended birth certificates before that option was eliminated. Keenan Crow, with LGBTQ+ advocacy group One Iowa, said the group has long cosponsored legal clinics to assist with that process. "The last one that we had was by far the biggest," Crow said. Iowa's Department of Transportation still has a process by which people can change the gender designation on their license or identification card but has proposed administrative rules to eliminate that option. Wichtendahl also said she has talked to some families who are looking to move out of state as a result of the new law. "It's heartbreaking because this is people's lives we're talking about," Wichtendahl added. "These are families that have trans loved ones and it's keeping their loved ones away, it's putting their loved ones into uncertain future, putting their health and safety at risk."

byAlpha World

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June 30, 2025

Iowa's civil rights protections no longer include gender identity as new law takes effect

Iowa's civil rights protections no longer include gender identity as new law takes effect DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa became the first ...

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Mexican authorities discover 20 bodies, some decapitated, on Sinaloa highway

Mexican authorities discover 20 bodies, some decapitated, on Sinaloa highway

Prosecutors in northern Mexico's Sinaloa state are investigating the discovery of 20 male bodies with gunshot wounds – including five that were decapitated – on a bridge over a federal highway. Local media reported that a message was also found hanging over the bridge in Culiacán. The prosecutor's office told CNN it had no comment on the message but would investigate. Sinaloa Secretary General Feliciano Castro Meléndez called the case a "regrettable situation" and said it was "part of the violence and insecurity that Sinaloa is experiencing." Since 2024, Culiacán has been the epicenter of armed clashes between rival factions of the Sinaloa cartel. Two of the most prominent factions are La Mayiza, which is loyal to the cartel's alleged co-founder Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, and Los Chapitos, which is loyal to the sons of former drug kingpin Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán. The violence in Sinaloa escalated after Zambada and one of El Chapo's sons, Joaquín Guzmán López, werearrestedlast year by US authorities in El Paso, Texas. An official familiar with the operation told CNN at the time that Guzmán López had organized his arrest along with that of Zambada by luring him on a flight to examine a piece of land he thought was in Mexico. Instead, the plane landed in El Paso, Texas, where federal agents arrested them both. Former Mexican Secretary of Security Rosa Icela Rodriguez said Guzmán López had reachedan agreementwith one of his brothers, Ovidio Guzmán López, who is in US custody, "So that they would go to the United States to surrender." However, an attorney for Ovidio told CNN that Rodriguez's claim was "a complete and utter fabrication." An attorney for El Mayo said he "neither surrendered nor negotiated any terms with the US government" and described the flight to the US as a violent kidnapping. Ovidio had been extradited to the US in September 2023 to face drug trafficking charges over his alleged role in the Sinaloa cartel. Days after his extradition, he pleaded not guilty to the charges in a US court. But in May, he reached an agreement to change his plea, according to a court document reviewed by CNN. Later that month, several members of his familyentered the USas part of an apparent "negotiation or plea deal opportunity provided by the (US) Department of Justice itself," Mexico's Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch said. Two other sons of El Chapo, Ivan Archivaldo and Jesus Alfredo Guzmán Salazar, are still at large. The US has accused them of leading large-scale drug trafficking operations for the cartel and has issued $10 million bounties for information leading to each of their arrests. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

byAlpha World

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June 30, 2025

Mexican authorities discover 20 bodies, some decapitated, on Sinaloa highway

Mexican authorities discover 20 bodies, some decapitated, on Sinaloa highway Prosecutors in northern Mexico's Sinaloa state are investig...

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James Gunn Says Adria Arjona Would ‘Be a Great Wonder Woman’

James Gunn Says Adria Arjona Would 'Be a Great Wonder Woman'

DC Studios head James Gunn may have revealed his first choice to play Wonder Woman. In a recent interview withExtra, the "Guardians of the Galaxy" director discussed "Hit Man" star Adria Arjona and teased where he sees her fitting in to his revamped DC Universe. More from Variety Matt Reeves Finally Completes 'The Batman 2' Script James Gunn Says 'Superman' Won't Confuse Moviegoers With So Many Characters: 'Oppenheimer' Had 'Three Times as Many Speaking Roles' James Gunn Says 'I'm Irritated by People' Outraged Over 'The Batman 2' Delay: 'Get Off Matt Reeves' Nuts... He Doesn't Owe You Something Because You Like His Movie' "I follow Adria on Instagram, but everybody came out [and thought], 'He just followed her, that means she's Wonder Woman,'" Gunn shared. "She'd be a great Wonder Woman, by the way." "She was in a movie that I made seven years ago," he added. "We've been friends and have known each other since that time. I followed her then, I didn'tjustfollow her." Earlier in June, Gunn told Entertainment Weekly thata new feature film following Wonder Womanis "being written right now." He added that the movie would come in addition to an HBO series about Wonder Woman's home of Themyscira. Gunn said that the TV project is "slow moving, but it's moving." The Wonder Woman movie is only one of many feature films in development at DC Studios. "Superman," written and directed by Gunn and starring David Corenswet as the Man of Steel, is set to release in July. "Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow" is scheduled for release in June 2026, directed by Craig Gillespie. "Clayface," a horror film and origin story of the titular Batman villain, is also in the works and set for release in September 2026. James Watkins is set to direct with a script from Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini. Best of Variety Oscars 2026: George Clooney, Jennifer Lopez, Julia Roberts, Wagner Moura and More Among Early Contenders to Watch New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? Sign up forVariety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us onFacebook,Twitter, andInstagram.

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June 30, 2025

James Gunn Says Adria Arjona Would ‘Be a Great Wonder Woman’

James Gunn Says Adria Arjona Would 'Be a Great Wonder Woman' DC Studios head James Gunn may have revealed his first choice to play W...

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Robert De Niro Adorably Brings His 2-Year-Old Daughter Gia to Meet the Wiggles — See the Cute Photos!

Robert De Niro Adorably Brings His 2-Year-Old Daughter Gia to Meet the Wiggles — See the Cute Photos!

John Nacion/Getty Robert De Niro was photographed meeting The Wiggles alongside his 2-year-old daughter, Gia, ahead of their New York City show The actor and his daughter were seen playing with bubbles and listening as the children's band sang a few songs De Niro shares his youngest daughter with Tiffany Chen Robert De Nirois winning major dad points! The actor, 81, and his 2-year-old daughter,Gia, metThe Wigglesbefore their New York City concert. While posing with the children's band, De Niro sweetly holds his daughter up in one photo as they sit between two of the members. Other photos show De Niro, Gia and the toddler's mom, Tiffany Chen, sitting together amongst a few bubbles, getting ready to watch the show. The Wiggles also shared a few photos on their Instagram from their time with De Niro, including a video of the actor and his daughter shaking hands with some of the Australian singers. Later, De Niro can be seen playing around in the bubbles with his toddler daughter and listening as group sang a few tunes. 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 celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. John Nacion/Getty "It was such a thrill to spend some time with the legendary Robert De Niro and his family before our concert here in New York City ✨," The Wiggles wrote intheir Instagram caption. TheAcademy Awardwinner has seven children. De Niro and his first wife,Diahnne Abbott, are parents to daughter Drena, 53, and son Raphael, 48. In 1995, he welcomed twin sons Julian and Aaron, 29, with his former girlfriend, model and actress Toukie Smith. De Niro shares son Elliot, 26, and daughter Helen Grace, 13, with his ex-wife,Grace Hightower. In April 2023, the proud father welcomed a baby girl, Gia, withTiffany Chen. Back in February, De Nirofirst shared that he watchesThe Wigglesand other kids' television series with his youngest daughter while speaking with Scott Mills on BBC Radio 2'sThe Scott Mills Breakfast Show. John Nacion/Getty At the time, theZero Dayactor and executive producer noted that he doesn't watch as many movies as he should because he's busy watching the news or TV shows with Gia. "I just want to keep up, but I watch current events, if you will news [and] stuff like that," he told Mills. "Now I watch, with my little girl,The Wigglesand Ms. Rachel." "I didn't know of them until I started seeing them and my daughter loves to watch them," he added. "But they're great!" Shortly after welcoming his youngest daughter, De Niro reflected onbeing a father of seven. While chatting withAccess Hollywoodat the premiere of his new filmAbout My Fatherin May 2023, the actor opened up about being a dad and shared his wisdom about being a good father. "Sometimes I don't think people really know what being a good father is, you know you have a responsibility, but it's a mystery, it's a lot of excitement but scary and you do your best," he said. Read the original article onPeople

byAlpha World

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June 30, 2025

Robert De Niro Adorably Brings His 2-Year-Old Daughter Gia to Meet the Wiggles — See the Cute Photos!

Robert De Niro Adorably Brings His 2-Year-Old Daughter Gia to Meet the Wiggles — See the Cute Photos! John Nacion/Getty Robert De Niro was p...

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Iran foreign minister doubtful talks with U.S. will resume quickly

Iran foreign minister doubtful talks with U.S. will resume quickly

President Trump recently indicateddiplomatic talks with Iran could restartas soon as this week, although the White House noted no talks were officially scheduled. AfterU.S. airstrikes on some of Iran's nuclear facilities, followed days later by aceasefireto end what Mr. Trump called the12-day war between Iran and Israel, Iran's foreign minister seemed less certain about a speedy return to diplomacy. "I don't think negotiations will restart as quickly as that," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told CBS News through a translator. "In order for us to decide to reengage, we will have to first ensure that America will not revert back to targeting us in a military attack during the negotiations," Araghchi said in his first interview with an American media outlet inside Iran since the bombings. "And I think with all these considerations, we still need more time." However, Araghchi also insisted, "The doors of diplomacy will never slam shut." Mr. Trump said during a televised address following the American strikes on June 21 that Iran's Fordo nuclear enrichment site and the Isfahan and Natanz nuclear facilities had been "completely and totally obliterated." Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said during a news conference, "Initial battle damage assessments indicate that all three sites sustained extremely severe damage and destruction." Rafael Mariano Grossi, the head of the United Nations' nuclear watchdog agencytold CBS Newsthe U.S. strikes caused "severe damage, but it's not total damage." Grossi said Iran could likely start enriching uranium again within a few months. "One cannot obliterate the technology and science for enrichment through bombings," Araghchi said. "If there is this will on our part, and the will exists in order to once again make progress in this industry, we will be able to expeditiously repair the damages and make up for the lost time." When asked if Iran intends to continue enriching uranium, Araghchi said the country's "peaceful nuclear program has turned into a matter of national pride and glory. We have also gone through 12 days of imposed war, therefore, people will not easily back down from enrichment." After 12 days of missile exchanges between Iran and Israel, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khameneideclared victory, writing on social media, "I offer my congratulations on the victory over the fallacious Zionist regime," andclaimingIsrael's government was "practically knocked out and crushed under the blows of the Islamic Republic." Mr. Trumpresponded on social media, calling Khamenei's declaration a lie, saying Iran had been "decimated" and claiming he prevented both the U.S. and Israeli militaries from assassinating the supreme leader. Mr. Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are set to meet at the White House next Monday. Mr. Trump has also indicated he could order strikes on Iran again should it resume enriching uranium beyond a certain level. Araghchi questioned the legality of such action and said Iran was prepared for more attacks. "We showed and proved during this 12-day imposed war that we have the ability to defend ourselves, and we will continue to do so should any aggression be launched against us," he said. Saving money vs. saving lives The true cost of the Senate spending bill New Tennessee laws make it illegal to shelter undocumented immigrants

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June 30, 2025

Iran foreign minister doubtful talks with U.S. will resume quickly

Iran foreign minister doubtful talks with U.S. will resume quickly President Trump recently indicateddiplomatic talks with Iran could restar...

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USDA grant cuts leave food groups, farmers scrambling

USDA grant cuts leave food groups, farmers scrambling

Four days a week, Maile Auterson and one of her employees drive hundreds of miles across Kansas, Missouri and Arkansas to deliver fresh produce to food deserts. Auterson's nonprofit, Springfield Community Gardens, helps underservedschools, food pantries and senior centers. One center in Ava, Missouri, is the only place for many where they can get a hot meal. Springfield Community Gardens isone of many organizationsthat relied on grants from the United States Department of Agriculture to distribute produce to schools and low-income communities through two pandemic-era federal programs. They provided about $1 billion in funding to schools andfood banksto buy food directly from local farms, ranchers and producers.But in March, the USDA abruptlycanceled the programs, calling the decision a "return to long-term, fiscally responsible initiatives." Now, Auterson says, "some of the most vulnerable people" are without adequate access to food, including children and senior citizens. "We are not past the effects of the pandemic," Auterson added. The impact of the recent cuts are also trickling down — aid groups used USDA grants to buy food from small farms like the one owned by Liz Graznak. "It was devastating. I don't know those families, but I know those families are desperate for the food that they were getting," Graznak said. Graznak said the grant programs were "huge" for her farm. She rented an extra 16 acres to harvest more onions, garlic and peppers to keep up with demand. "A quarter of my annual sales were going to those programs, and when they said that that money is gone, I thought, 'Oh my god, well now what do I do?'" Graznak said. Nationwide, more than 8,000 small farmers were supported by the programs. Advocates warn the cuts could ripple through food deserts, rural communities and urban areas where access to healthy food is miles away. With food insecurity in Missouri above the national average at 15%, according to Feeding America, local farmers help bridge the gap. Auterson says they will still be able to feed people, but "not nearly as many." Saving money vs. saving lives The true cost of the Senate spending bill New Tennessee laws make it illegal to shelter undocumented immigrants

byAlpha World

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June 30, 2025

USDA grant cuts leave food groups, farmers scrambling

USDA grant cuts leave food groups, farmers scrambling Four days a week, Maile Auterson and one of her employees drive hundreds of miles acro...

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Slander or 'trash-talking'? Drake-Kendrick Lamar feud has a day in court

Slander or 'trash-talking'? Drake-Kendrick Lamar feud has a day in court

NEW YORK (AP) — A federal judge is pondering the nature of rap battles and the cutting wordplay inKendrick Lamar's "Not Like Us," the megahit diss track that spurred adefamation lawsuitfrom his fellow superstarDrake. Drake sued Universal Music Group — both his and Lamar's record label — over "Not Like Us," saying the company published and promoted a song he deems slanderous. Universal says the lyrics are just hyperbole in the tradition of rap beefing, and the label is trying to get the case dismissed. Judge Jeannette Vargas didn't immediately decide after a lively hearing Monday, when the raw creativity ofhip-hopbrushed up against the staid confines of federal court. "Who is the ordinary listener? Is it someone who's going to catch all those references?" Vargas wondered aloud, addressing a legal standard that concerns how an average, reasonable person would understand a statement. "There's so much specialized and nuanced to these lyrics." Neither artist attended the hearing. The case stems from anepic feudbetween two of hip-hop's biggest stars over one of 2024 biggest songs — the one that won therecord of the year and song of the year Grammys, got the most Apple Music streams worldwide and helped make this winter'sSuper Bowl halftime showthe most watched ever. Released as the two artists were trading a flurry of insult tracks, Lamar's song calls out the Canadian-born Drake by name and impugns his authenticity, branding him "a colonizer" of rap culture who's "not like us" inLamar's home turfof Compton, California, and, more broadly, West Coast rap. "Not Like Us" also makes insinuations about Drake's sex life, including "I hear you like 'em young" — implications that he rejects. Drake's suit says that the song amounts to "falsely accusing him of being a sex offender, engaging in pedophilic acts" and more. Contending that the track endangered him by fanning notions of vigilante justice, the suit blames "Not Like Us" not only for harming Drake's image but for attempted break-ins and the shooting of a security guard at his Toronto home. The mansion was depicted in an aerial photo in the song's cover art. "This song achieved a cultural ubiquity unlike any other rap song in history," Drake lawyer Michael Gottlieb said. He argued that Universal had campaigned and contrived to make it "a de facto national anthem" that didn't just address hip-hop fans who knew the backstory and were accustomed to over-the-top lyrical battling. The average listener could be "a 13-year-old who's dancing to the song at a bar mitzvah," Gottlieb suggested. "That would be a very interesting bar mitzvah," the judge opined. (The song has indeed been played at some such celebrations.) Universal, meanwhile, has emphasized that "Not Like Us" was part of an exchange of barbs between Drake and Lamar. "Context is key," label lawyer Rollin Ransom argued Monday, at one point apologizing for having to use profanity while reciting some of the lyrics Drake aimed at Lamar in a track called "Taylor Made Freestyle." "What you hear in these rap battles is trash-talking in the extreme, and it is not, and should not be treated as, statements of fact," the attorney said. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages. Drake also went after iHeartMedia, claiming in a Texaslegal petitionthat the radio giant got illegal payments from Universal to boost airplay for "Not Like Us." IHeartMedia hasdenied any wrongdoing. That disputewas resolvedin March. Drake hasn't sued Lamar himself.

byAlpha World

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June 30, 2025

Slander or 'trash-talking'? Drake-Kendrick Lamar feud has a day in court

Slander or 'trash-talking'? Drake-Kendrick Lamar feud has a day in court NEW YORK (AP) — A federal judge is pondering the nature of ...

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No verdict on first day of jury deliberations at Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ sex trafficking trial

No verdict on first day of jury deliberations at Sean 'Diddy' Combs' sex trafficking trial

NEW YORK (AP) — Jury deliberations got underway on Monday in Sean "Diddy" Combs' federal sex trafficking trial and hit a snag almost as soon as they started. But, by the end of the day, jurors indicated they were making progress weighing complex charges that could put the hip-hop mogul in prison for life. The first day of deliberations saw a flurry of notes from the jury and Combs and his supporters bowing their heads in prayer in the courtroom — but no verdict. The juryof eight men and four women are sifting through seven weeks of sometimes graphic and emotional testimony about therap, fashion and reality TV impresario's propensity for violence and his sexual predilections, including drug-fueled sex marathons dubbed "freak-offs" or "hotel nights." About an hour in, the foreperson reported that a juror might be having trouble following the 61 pages worth of instructions the judge had just read to them. "We are concerned (the juror) cannot follow your honor's instructions," the foreperson said in a note to Judge Arun Subramanian just after 12:30 p.m. After the judge originally proposed asking the jury foreperson the nature of concerns about the fellow juror, defense lawyer Marc Agnifilo suggested caution and that it was better to say less than more. "We can always ratchet it up. We can't ratchet it down," Agnifilo said. Subramanian sent his response to the jury around 2 p.m., reminding the panel to deliberate and to follow his instructions on the law. The jury sent another note about three hours later asking for clarification on the part of the instructions addressing drug distribution — an allegation included in Combs' racketeering conspiracy charge. As deliberations were happening, Combs prayed with his family and friends in the courtroom. Wearing his customary sweater and khakis, he stood facing his contingent in the audience and bowed his head with them. As they finished, they applauded, along with Combs. Combs also showed off two books he's reading: "The Power of Positive Thinking," by Norman Vincent Peale and "The Happiness Advantage," by Shawn Achor. As he sent the jury to deliberate, Subramanian told the five alternate jurors to remain on standby at home in case they're needed at a later point. Jurors were provided with a laptop loaded with all of the exhibits shown in court, including text messages, photographs and videos of the sexual encounters at the heart of the case. Combs, 55, haspleaded not guiltyto federal charges of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking — relating to two of his ex-girlfriends — and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution for allegedly arranging to fly his girlfriends and sex workers across state lines. In closing arguments last week, federal prosecutors and Combs' defense team took their last shots at convincing jurors to convict or acquit the Grammy Award-winning founder of Bad Boy Records. "The defendant used power, violence and fear to get what he wanted,"Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik said. "He thought that his fame, wealth and power put him above the law." She said that he used his "close inner circle and a small army of personal staff, who made it their mission to meet the defendant's every desire, promote his power and protect his reputation at all costs." Defense lawyer Marc Agnifilocountered, "This isn't about crime. It's about money." He noted that one of Combs' accusers in the criminal case also sued him in civil court. "He is not a racketeer. He is not a conspirator to commit racketeering. He is none of these things. He is innocent. He sits there innocent. Return him to his family, who have been waiting for him," the lawyer told jurors. In all, 34 witnesses testified, headlined by Combs' former girlfriendsCassie— the R&B singer born Casandra Ventura — and "Jane," who testified under a pseudonym. Both women said he often was violent toward them. Cassie said he forced her into hundreds of sexual encounters with paid male sex workers while Jane recounted numerous "hotel nights." Jurors also saw now-infamoussecurity camera videoof Combs beating, kicking and dragging Cassie at a Los Angeles hotel in 2016 and clips from videos of sexual encounters. Combschose not to testify, and his lawyers didn't call any witnesses in their defense case. His attorneys elected instead to challenge the accusers' credibility during lengthy cross-examination questioning. The defense has acknowledged that Combs veered into violence, buthis lawyers maintainthat the sex acts were consensual. They contend that prosecutors are intruding in Combs' personal life and that he's done nothing to warrant the charges against him.

byAlpha World

in

June 30, 2025

No verdict on first day of jury deliberations at Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ sex trafficking trial

No verdict on first day of jury deliberations at Sean 'Diddy' Combs' sex trafficking trial NEW YORK (AP) — Jury deliberations go...

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Satellite imagery reveals ongoing work at Iranian nuclear site bombed by US

Satellite imagery reveals ongoing work at Iranian nuclear site bombed by US

New satellite images show continuing work at Iran's Fordow nuclear enrichment plant, which was struck by US B-2 bombers just over a week ago. The imagery was collected by Maxar Technologies on Sunday. Maxar said it "reveals ongoing activity at and near the ventilation shafts and holes caused by last week's airstrikes on the Fordow fuel enrichment complex." The pictures show "an excavator and several personnel are positioned immediately next to the northern shaft on the ridge above the underground complex. The crane appears to be operating at the entrance to the shaft/hole." According to Maxar, several additional vehicles are also seen below the ridge and are parked along the path that was built to access the site. Earlier this month, American B-2 bombers dropped more than a dozen bunker-buster bombs on Iran's Fordow and Natanz nuclear sites, while Tomahawk missiles launched from a US submarine hit theIsfahan sitein central Iran. The US Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bombs targeted the two ventilation shafts at Fordow, according to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine. He told a Pentagon briefing last week that most of the bombs dropped at Fordow "were tasked to enter the main shaft, move down into the complex at greater than 1,000 feet per second, and explode in the mission space." Former nuclear inspector David Albright, who now leads the Institute for Science and International Security, said that imagery from Fordow on Saturday showed "the Iranians are actively working at the two MOP impact sites penetrating the ventilation shafts" at the plant. Albright assessed that the activity "may include backfilling the craters, as well as conducting engineering damage assessments and likely radiological sampling. The craters above the main shafts remain open." "We have observed that the Iranians have also rapidly repaired the bomb cratering damage on the main entrance road from only a few days prior. However, there are yet no indications of any efforts to reopen any of the tunnel entrances," Albrightposted on X. On Sunday, the head of the UN's nuclear watchdog said US strikes on Iranfell short of causing total damageto its nuclear program and that Tehran could restart enriching uranium "in a matter of months," contradicting President Donald Trump's claims the US set Tehran's ambitions back by decades. The comments by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi appear to support an early assessment from the Pentagon's Defense Intelligence Agency,first reported on by CNN, which suggests the United States' strikes on key Iranian nuclear sites last week did not destroy the core components of its nuclear program, and likely only set it back by months. While the final military and intelligence assessment has yet to come, Trump has repeatedly claimed to have "completely and totally obliterated" Tehran's nuclear program. CNN's Laura Sharman and Sophie Tanno contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

byAlpha World

in

June 30, 2025

Satellite imagery reveals ongoing work at Iranian nuclear site bombed by US

Satellite imagery reveals ongoing work at Iranian nuclear site bombed by US New satellite images show continuing work at Iran's Fordow n...

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6 killed in a crash of a small plane in Ohio, officials say

6 killed in a crash of a small plane in Ohio, officials say

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (AP) — Four adults from one family heading out on vacation were killed along with their pilot and co-pilot when a small plane crashed minutes after taking off from an Ohio airport, officials said. The twin-engine Cessna 441 turboprop crashed near Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport on Sunday morning, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. There were no survivors, Western Reserve Port Authority Executive Director Anthony Trevena said at a news conference. The agency owns the airport. Agency records show the plane was registered to Meander Air LLC of Warren, Ohio. Trumbull County Coroner Lawrence D'Amico on Monday identified the victims as the pilot, Joseph Maxin, 63; co-pilot Timothy Blake, 55; and passengers Veronica Weller, 68; her husband, James Weller, 67; their son, John Weller, 36, and his wife, Maria Weller, 34. Blake and the passengers were all Hubbard residents, while Maxin lived in Canfield. D'Amico said the family — which owns steel manufacturing plants in the Youngstown-Warren area — was heading for a vacation in Montana. Maxin was the port authority's director of compliance and also a former assistant prosecutor for the Mahoning County Prosecutor's Office. A statement issued by the authority called Maxin "a selfless public servant and pilot (who) dedicated his life to serving the Mahoning Valley." The plane crashed in heavy woods, making access to the site difficult, Howland Township Fire Chief Raymond Pace said. "This is an extremely tragic situation, but it could have been worse," Pace said, noting that there were three houses near where the plane crashed. Publicly available flight tracking data showed that the plane's destination was Bozeman, Montana, said Michael Hillman, president of aviation company JETS FBO Network. "These were the best of the best in terms of the folks here at the field, as well as the pilots. I can't say enough about them," Hillman said at the news conference. "I'd give anything to rewind the day and take them to breakfast instead." The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating but have not speculated on a possible cause. They have asked residents to contact them if they have surveillance video showing the crash or other information that may be relevant to the investigation.

byAlpha World

in

June 30, 2025

6 killed in a crash of a small plane in Ohio, officials say

6 killed in a crash of a small plane in Ohio, officials say YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (AP) — Four adults from one family heading out on vacation were...

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'Love Island USA' Season 7 cast list: See every islander so far

'Love Island USA' Season 7 cast list: See every islander so far

Contestants are not afraid to lock lips and test their relationships on "Love Island USA" Season 7. After returning to the villa, islanders are living in theaftermath of the drama-inducing Casa Amor.Four bombshells packed their bags, and the remaining islanders continue to navigate their connections, both old and new. In the latest episode, the group held nothing back during a staple challenge of the series. Throughout the season, USA TODAY will keep fans updated on all the tea inside the Fijian villa. Here's a recap of some highlights from the last few episodes and a list of all the islanders who have entered the villa for "Love Island USA" Season 7 so far, including those who debutedsince last week's update. 'Love Island USA':People can't stop talking about Huda. Will we ever learn our lesson? Islanders Olandria and Nic were paired after being dumped in Episode 20. Neither of them were selected to recouple with a new Casa Amor bombshell. However, in another twist, Olandria and Nic were picked up in a G-wagon and taken to a secret garden in Episode 21. Faced with the option to join forces and couple up or officially leave the show, they decided to couple up and were able to return to the main villa. At one point in the villa − while Olandria was still trying to keep Taylor from turning his head and while Nic was thinking about Cierra − the two decided to explore whether there was a romantic connection. "I think there's a strong physical connection between Olandria and I," Nic said in his confessional. "She's one of the most attractive women I've ever seen in my lifetime." They eventually share a passionate kiss in Soul Ties, but later mutually agree in Episode 22 that they are just friends. when I tell people about coupled up Nicolandria#LoveIslandUSApic.twitter.com/0zdY5ES8eU — T (@teewatterss)June 28, 2025 JD and Huda's connection crumbled in Episode 22 after he confronted her about her approach to the "Kiss-Off" challenge. "I can tell you like being dominant," JD told Huda while smiling. "I had to lead your (expletive) to help you," she responded. "You was trying to be dominant and I'm not someone who likes to be dominated. It was like combative," JD continued. "So find someone submissive," Huda responded, adding, "Sure. Okay, good talk." Theclip of the interactionwent viral on social media. Huda has been at the center of other popular moments from the season, includingher clash with her former partner Jeremiahand her"I'm a mommy" conversationwith Nic. Four islanders, all of whom entered the villa as Casa Amor bombshells, were dumped from the villa in Episode 22. Coco: Had a connection with Ace Zac: Had a connection with Iris JD: Had a connection with Huda and Amaya Vanna: Had a connection with TJ Women: Chelley, 27, from Orlando, Florida Huda, 24, from Raleigh, North Carolina Olandria, 27, from Decatur, Alabama Cierra, 25, from Arizona(Bombshell, Episode 2) Amaya, 25, New York City(Bombshell, Episode 4) Iris, 25, from Los Angeles (Bombshell, Episode 9) Andreina, 24, from Jersey City, New Jersey(Bombshell, Episode 15) Clarke, 24, Columbia, South Carolina(Casa Amor Bombshell, Episode 19) Jaden, 25, Los Angeles(Casa Amor Bombshell, Episode 19) Gracyn, 25, Bristol, Virginia(Casa Amor Bombshell, Episode 19) Men: Ace, 22, from Los Angeles Taylor, 24, from Oklahoma City Nicolas, 24, from Jacksonville, Florida Austin, 26, from Northville, Michigan Pepe, 27, from Los Angeles(Bombshell, Episode 9) TJ, 23, from Pleasantville, New York(Bombshell, Episode 15) Elan, 23,Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada(Casa Amor Bombshell, Episode 19) Chris, 27, Los Angeles(Casa Amor Bombshell, Episode 19) Bryan, 28, Boston(Casa Amor Bombshell,Episode 19) Zak, 29, Roi Et, Thailand; Manchester, U.K.(Casa Amor Bombshell,Episode 19) Dumped: Yulissa, 27, from Miami(Left the villa) Belle-A, 22, from Honolulu(Dumped, Episode 6) Charlie, 27, from the United Kingdom(Bombshell, Episode 2)(Dumped, Episode 12) Jalen, 27, from Sparta, Georgia(Bombshell, Episode 9)(Dumped, Episode 14) Hannah, 23, Tucson, Arizona(Bombshell, Episode 4)(Dumped, Episode 18) Jeremiah, 25, from Los Angeles(Dumped, Episode 18) Zac, 26, Portland, Oregon (Casa Amor Bombshell, Episode19) (Dumped, Episode 22) JD, 23, Dallas, Texas(Casa Amor Bombshell, Episode19)(Dumped, Episode 22) Coco, 24, Los Angeles(Casa Amor Bombshell, Episode 19) (Dumped, Episode 22) Vanna, 21, Salt Lake City, Utah(Casa Amor Bombshell, Episode 19) (Dumped, Episode 22) Couples: Chelley and Ace Amaya and Zak Jaden and Austin Cierra and Nic Gracyn and Pepe Huda and Chris Iris and TJ Taylor and Clarke Andreina and Bryan Single Islanders: Olandria Elan In Episode 24, the islanders played dress-up and participated in the "Hearts on Fire" game, also notoriously known among fans as the heart rate challenge. This season's contestants completed the challenge as a couple. Women: Iris' heart rate was raised the most by Nic Amaya's heart rate was raised the most by Pepe Andreina's heart rate was raised the most by Pepe Jaden's heart rate was raised the most by Nic Chelley's heart rate was raised the most by Chris Huda's heart rate was raised the most by Elan Gracyn's heart rate was raised the most by Nic Cierra's heart rate was raised the most by Elan Olandria's heart rate was raised the most by Chris Clarke's heart rate was raised the most by Ace Men: TJ's heart rate was raised the most by Gracyn Zak's heart rate was raised the most by Cierra Bryan's heart rate was raised the most by Cierra Austin's heart rate was raised the most by Amaya Chris' heart rate was raised the most by Chelley Pepe's heart rate was raised the most by Andreina Nic's heart rate was raised the most by Iris Elan's heart rate was raised the most by Cierra Taylor's heart rate was raised the most by Olandria Ace's heart rate was raised the most by Huda Winning couple:Cierra and Nic New episodes come out onPeacockeach night Thursday to Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET, meaning the only day without a new episode is Wednesday. Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at tardrey@gannett.com. We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn't influence our coverage. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:'Love Island USA' Season 7 cast: See every bombshell, islander

byAlpha World

in

June 30, 2025

'Love Island USA' Season 7 cast list: See every islander so far

'Love Island USA' Season 7 cast list: See every islander so far Contestants are not afraid to lock lips and test their relationships...

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Diddy's star-studded trial: The celebrities mentioned in court

Diddy's star-studded trial: The celebrities mentioned in court

NEW YORK — Before his precipitous downfall,Sean "Diddy" Combswas apop-culture supernovawithinnumerable starsin his orbit. Like it or not, that's part of the reason we've all been so glued to his criminal trial, as theonce-untouchable music mogulawaitsa verdicton fivecharges of sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and transportation to engage in prostitution. It's why journalists dashed breathlessly through the halls of Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Courthouse on June 13, in an attempt tocatch a glimpse of rapper Ye as he made a fleeting appearance to show his solidarity with Combs. It's also why dozens of social media influencers waited for nearly four hours in the pouring rain in the early morning hours of May 22, hoping to land a spot in the main courtroom asmusician Kid Cuditestified about analleged arson attack by Combs. Throughout nearly two months of testimony, attorneys and witnesses alike havename-checked several celebritiesas they've excavated nearlytwo decades of Combs' apparent criminal past. They've recounted nights ofpartying with Prince, Stevie Wonder, Muhammad Ali and Rita Ora, some of which ended in Combs allegedly assaulting his girlfriends orforcing them into "freak offs" with escorts. Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne and Rick Ross were referenced in court, as defense tried to highlight the powerful connections that Combs helped afford to his ex-lover, singer Casandra "Cassie" Ventura Fine.Michael B. Jordan,50 CentandSuge Knightwere all subjects of Combs' ire, whileUsherandDanity Kane's Dawn Richardwere both on the sidelines of allegedly violent incidents. Diddy trial bombshells:What his inner circle said about baby oil, 'freak offs' There were name drops that sparked dry amusement from reporters, too, like the revelation that Combs once had ecstasy pills shaped like the face offormer President Barack Obama. Or that the rapper gave his staff an annual paid holiday on the Notorious B.I.G.'s birthday. (Checking into hotels, Combs often used the alias Frank Black ‒ a nod to Biggie Smalls' nickname, Frank White.) Combs' lawyer also mentioned Beyoncé in his closing statement. "I don't expect we're going to see Beyoncé in CVS," lead defense attorney Marc Agnifilo said as he argued Combs' employees were not part of a criminal enterprise and that they instead were just doing their jobs. Here are just a few of the most notable A-listers to find their way into the Diddy trial: "Mia," a former assistant of Combs who testified under a pseudonym, told jurors that she had been abused and assaulted by the rapper throughout her employment. In a series of texts read aloud in court, sheinvoked the name of disgraced R&B singer R. Kelly, who is in prison following his own sex-crimes trial. Jurors saw an exchange from 2019, in which Mia wrote toCombs: "I had a nightmare. I was trapped in an elevator with R. Kelly and you came to rescue me." In a lengthy text that she sent Combs around 2020, Mia described some of their most "magical, hilarious" and "hysterical" memories together. One was of a night in Paris when Mick Jagger tried to take her home; another was of a night when Jennifer Lopez wouldn't stay out. Mia also referenced a high-stakes poker game between the hip-hop mogul andDiCaprio. She wrote that Combs said, while cursing: "That 'Titanic' (guy) doesn't know (anything). He won $10,000, I won $650,000." What to expect:Diddy trial is ending, jury deliberation underway In a message from August 2020, Mia texted Combs, "Thinking of you withChadwick Boseman," following the actor's death. Mia said on the stand that Combs was "auditioning for the role" of James Brown in the "Get On Up" biopic that Boseman ended up playing. In a text exchange shown to jurors, Mia told Combs that she had his audition tape and would send it to him. Mia alleged that in 2012 she witnessed a discussion between Combs and Ventura Fine escalate at the premiere of theBrad Pittfilm "Killing Them Softly," during the Cannes Film Festival in France.She claimed she saw Combs grit his teeth while digging his nails into Ventura Fine's arm, and eventually insisted that Ventura Fine leave, which she did. On the stand, Mia said that over the years, she saw Combs take molly, MDMA, ketamine and prescription drugs. Although she said it was "mostly in party situations," she once claimed to see him high at a board meeting. On another occasion, she alleged that he was so high at aChelsea Handlershow that she pulled him aside. "You look a little crazy right now," Mia told Combs. More:All the witnesses who took the stand in the Diddy trial, including Cassie and Kid Cudi On the stand, Combs' ex-personal assistant Capricorn Clark was asked whether she thought Ventura Fine was "very talented." Clark responded "no," adding that she thought the rising R&B star merely had "talent." "Very talented to me is Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey," Clark told jurors. "Very talented is that level of performer, entertainer. Cassie was more of a studio artist." During Ventura Fine's lengthy testimony, jurors saw a text that she sent to Combs in July 2013. At the time, she had been dating Combs for roughly seven years, and expressed frustration that she wasn't integrated more into his family life with his children. "As much as you think you're Bruce Willis, you aren't," Ventura Fine texted Combs. "He's married, and before he was married, the family as a whole went on trips together or just him and his woman." "Eddie Murphy and Paige (Butcher) took his kids away on their own," the message continued. "I don't think you sympathize with my feelings. I understand you feeling like you need to protect your children. But after a while, it's like, for what?" Surviving abuse:Cassie Ventura Fine and the unlikely bond with her mother-in-law Kerry Morgan, a model and former friend of Ventura Fine, testified that Combs once attacked her in Cassie's California home, choking her and hitting her in the head with a wooden hanger. She also told the court she saw Combs assault Ventura Fine several times, and she pleaded with her friend to leave the rapper. During cross-examination, the defense showed a number of photos of Morgan and Ventura Fine hanging out with groups of people. One snapshot included Morgan, stylist Deonte Nash, producer Rob Holiday, and "Nope" actress Keke Palmer. Defense asked whether they all had fun together: "We had a lot of fun," Morgan said. "We look like a loving bunch," although "I didn't love all these people." On the stand,Combs' ex "Jane," who also testified under a pseudonym, said that she, Combs and one of the escorts they allegedly hired used the nickname "trifecta" when they had sex. Jane claimed she was Kobe Bryant; Paul, the entertainer, was Shaquille O'Neal; and Combs was Michael Jordan. Jurors were also read a series of flirty text messages between Jane and Combs, where she likens their relationship to the NBA legends. In the exchange, Jane thanks Combs for making "me very happy" and giving "me so much love." "You're my Michael Jordan and I'm your Kobe Bryant," Jane texted Combs. "We're the greatest." More:Diddy's defense claims he was just 'swinging.' These swingers are appalled. In another frisky text exchange read aloud to jurors during testimony, Jane compared herself to former Playboy models. "It's giving Pamela Anderson, Carmen Electra," Jane texted Combs, adding two melon emojis. Jane frequently referenced famous figures in her text messages to Combs. Some of their other nicknames for each other: Bert and Ernie from "Sesame Street." In court, Combs' attorneys pressed Ventura Fine about a time when the hip-hop heavyweight suspected she was cheating on him. "He found out you were dancing with another person in the entertainment industry? Do you remember the incident where he suspected you of dancing withChris Brown?" defense asked, referencing an unspecified occasion in 2013. Ventura Fine said she did not remember the incident, but she "was not dancing" with the singer. Defense showed an exhibit to help jog Ventura Fine's memory of a time when Combs allegedly took the "Me & U" singer's phone after he suspected her of dancing with Brown. After looking at the evidence, Ventura Fine said, "It says that in the message, but I don't really remember it." Ventura Fine is close friends with Karrueche Tran, the actress and model who won a five-year restraining order against ex-boyfriend Brown in 2017. Diddy lawyerMarc Agnifilo compares 'freak offs' to couples drinking lemonade Cassie Beyoncé Rihanna Michael B. Jordan Barack Obama Georgina Chapman Mike Myers Will Smith DJ Whoo Kid Dallas Austin 50 Cent Suge Knight Prince Usher Britney Spears Common Madonna Jimmy Iovine Dawn Richard Kalenna Harper Kid Cudi French Montana Too Short Chris Brown Biggie Smalls Ryan Leslie Brad Pitt Keke Palmer Pamela Anderson Carmen Electra Whitney Houston Mariah Carey Chris Gethard Jay-Z Michael Jordan Kobe Bryant Shaquille O'Neal Bruce Willis Eddie Murphy Leonardo DiCaprio Mick Jagger Jennifer Lopez Chelsea Handler R. Kelly Chadwick Boseman Rita Ora Nicki Minaj Lil Wayne Yung Miami Contributing: USA TODAY staff This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Diddy trial celebrities ranged from Beyonce to Brad Pitt and Kid Cudi

byAlpha World

in

June 30, 2025

Diddy's star-studded trial: The celebrities mentioned in court

Diddy's star-studded trial: The celebrities mentioned in court NEW YORK — Before his precipitous downfall,Sean "Diddy" Combswa...

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ICE detains more non-criminals, new data analysis shows

ICE detains more non-criminals, new data analysis shows

Detentions of immigrants without criminal histories have risen sharply since May amid a broader push to expand immigration enforcement, according to a CBS News analysis of data from the Department of Homeland Security. White House adviser Stephen Miller announced a push for a new, higher target of 3,000 arrests daily in late May. From the first week of May to the first week of June, new ICE detentions of people facing only civil immigration charges, such as entering the country without authorization, rose by over 250%. President Trump has repeatedly said his administration is focusing deportation efforts on criminals. Until recently, federal agents working to enforce his orders have detained more immigrants with criminal convictions or pending criminal charges than those without them each week, the data shows. But even among those with criminal convictions — about 40% of detainees since Jan. 20 — the majority were not for violent offenses. Overall, roughly 8% of all detainees had been convicted of violent crimes, CBS News found. "What we're doing is we're really going after the criminal aliens, of which we have plenty to work with," Mr. Trump said at an event promotinghis legislative packageon Thursday. At a White House news conference with the president Friday, Attorney General Pam Bondi was asked about enforcement and said, "The violent criminals in our country are the priority now." However, top White House officials, including "border czar" Tom Homan, have also said anyone who entered the country illegally could face removal. Homantold CBS Newsin May that while ICE would prioritize public safety and national security threats, "If you're in the country illegally, you're not off the table," adding, "It's a violation of law to enter this country illegally." More than 97,000 people have been detained over Mr. Trump's first five months in office, CBS News' analysis found, while ICE arrests, which do not always result in detentions,topped 100,000earlier this month. Arecord 59,000 peoplewere currently being held in ICE detention as of June 23 — nearly half of them with no criminal record, CBS News reported last week. The data CBS News analyzed for this report comes from ICE and was released to theDeportation Data Project, a group of academics and lawyers who collect and publish immigration data. The group sued to obtain the data after filing a Freedom of Information Act request. ICE did not respond to a request for comment. Since the first week of June, the number detained with only civil immigration charges was double that of individuals with criminal convictions. This represents an abrupt reversal from the first four months of Mr. Trump's second term, when the number of immigration detainees with a criminal record outnumbered those detained on civil immigration charges. The new target of 3,000 daily arrests announced by Miller is a sharp increase from the the 660 daily arrests made on average during Mr. Trump's first 100 days in office. Out of the more than 97,700 people ICE has detained since Mr. Trump took office, more than 39,500, or about 40%, had criminal convictions. Of those, nearly 23,000 were removed as of mid-June. Among those with criminal convictions, about 8,200 — 8.4% — had convictions for violent crimes, including 478 convicted of homicide and about 6,800 convicted of assault or sexual assault. Violent offenses, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, include crimes that are "threatening, attempting, or actually using physical force against a person." Additionally, about 5,000 had drug-related convictions. Traffic-related offenses made up the largest category of crimes among those with prior convictions, with driving under the influence of alcohol the single most common violation. In aninterviewwith CBS News's Major Garrett in May, Homan blamed "sanctuary city" policies for leading to more arrests of those without criminal convictions. "When sanctuary cities force us into the neighborhood to find that bad guy, many times that person is with others that are illegally in the country but may not be a criminal target," he said. "Well, they're going to go too." Homan hascalledthese "collateral arrests." People without criminal convictions are also easier targets for removal, said Ariel Ruiz Soto, a senior policy analyst at the Migration Policy Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank. That's because they tend to be easier to find and more concentrated in one place, he added. "It requires significantly more resources to go after one person who may be armed and dangerous as opposed to going outside a Home Depot and trying to gather a larger number of people," he told CBS News. ACBS News pollcompleted in early June indicates that mass deportation of non-criminals is unpopular among Americans. The poll found that Americans who believe Mr. Trump's deportation efforts are focused on dangerous criminals support those efforts. But among those who do not think criminals were the focus, support dropped dramatically. Heightened ICE activity has sparkedprotestsacross the country in recent weeks, especially in Los Angeles, where Mr. Trump called in the National Guard in response. California's Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsomaccusedthe administration of "indiscriminately targeting hardworking immigrant families, regardless of their roots or risk." Some Republican elected officials have also expressed concern. Six GOP members of Congress wrote aletterto ICE acting director Todd Lyons requesting that ICE reveal how many convicted criminals have been deported since January. "Every minute that we spend pursuing an individual with a clean record is a minute less that we dedicate to apprehending terrorists or cartel operatives," they wrote. Ruiz Soto, of the Migration Policy Institute, told CBS News that based on Homan's statements on immigration enforcement, he isn't surprised that detentions are predominantly non-criminals. "There's been a disconnect from the beginning about the rhetoric from President Trump that seems to emphasize a focus on violent and the 'worst of the worst' criminals compared to what his cabinet and DHS has been saying from Day One," he said. "When you look at the numbers it's very clear that has not been the case since the beginning." Saving money vs. saving lives Woman who refused Trump pardon for Jan. 6 riot speaks out Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont on Trump budget bill, Zohran Mamdani

byAlpha World

in

June 30, 2025

ICE detains more non-criminals, new data analysis shows

ICE detains more non-criminals, new data analysis shows Detentions of immigrants without criminal histories have risen sharply since May ami...

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Jewish woman, 82, dies from injuries suffered in Boulder terror attack

Jewish woman, 82, dies from injuries suffered in Boulder terror attack

A Colorado woman has died from injuries suffered in thefiery antisemetic terror attack in Boulder. Karen Diamond, 82, died June 25 and was privately buried with her family in attendance, according to authorities and members of her synagogue, Boulder's Bonai Shalom. Authorities say Diamond was among a group of protesters raising awareness for Israeli hostages held in Gaza. Prosecutors announced after her death that they wereadding state-level first-degree murder chargesagainst the suspect.The crime has shaken the city's Jewish community amid astring of antisemitic attacks nationally. "There are no words to express the pain of this horrific loss of our beloved member and friend," Rabbi Marc Solowaywrote in announcing Diamond's death, which was made public June 30.  "We will need to support each other as we process this loss." In a statement, Boulder District Attorney Michael Dougherty called Diamond's death "horrific." "Part of what makes Colorado special is that people come together in response to a tragedy; I know that the communitywill continue to unitein supporting the Diamond family and all the victims of this attack," he said. In addition to the new charges of first-degree-murder, prosecutors announced June 30 that they have added 66 state-level counts against Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, who also faces federal hate crime charges. Soliman, a father of five who was an Uber driver, remains jailed. Federal officials said Soliman was living in the United States after overstaying his visa. Police said Soliman, who is Muslim, confessed to targeting the "Run for their Lives" walk on Boulder's Pearl Street pedestrian mall over what he felt was participants' support for Israel's military actions in Gaza. The weekly walk, which drew Jewish supporters, was focused on the return of hostages taken by Hamas after its militants raided Israel in October 2023. Police said he yelled "Free Palestine" during the attack. Soliman now faces state charges for 29 victims in the attack, 13 of whom suffered physical injuries, along with animal cruelty charges in connection with a dog that was hurt. Federal prosecutors did not immediately announce whether they would be adding further charges. Police said Soliman planned his attack for more than a year and arrived in Boulder after driving from his home in Colorado Springs, stopping along the way to buy gasoline, glass bottles, a weed sprayer and flowers to provide a disguise. Soloway, who leads the Bonai Shalom congregation, asked the public to respect the Diamond family's privacy "under these awful and distressing circumstances. … This event and the tragic loss of someone who has given so much of herself over the years to the Bonai community and beyond, has impacted us all and we are sad and horrified." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Jewish woman dies from injuries suffered in Boulder terror attack

byAlpha World

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June 30, 2025

Jewish woman, 82, dies from injuries suffered in Boulder terror attack

Jewish woman, 82, dies from injuries suffered in Boulder terror attack A Colorado woman has died from injuries suffered in thefiery antiseme...

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James Cameron Takes Issue with Christopher Nolan's Approach in “Oppenheimer”: It's a 'Moral Cop Out'

James Cameron Takes Issue with Christopher Nolan's Approach in "Oppenheimer": It's a 'Moral Cop Out'

Marc Piasecki/Getty; JC Olivera/Variety via Getty James Cameron has agreed to make a film based on the upcoming bookGhosts of Hiroshima TheTitanicdirector said he wanted to follow the story of the victims of the 1945 atomic bombing He also criticized Christopher Nolan's 2023 blockbusterOppenheimer, calling it a "moral cop out" for not following the real-life victims James Cameronis planning his own film about the atomic bomb following the Oscar-winning success of writer and directorChristopher Nolan'sOppenheimer— but theTitanicdirector says his film will be very different. "Yeah…it's interesting what he stayed away from," Cameron, 70, toldDeadlineof Nolan, 54, when asked if he was surprisedOppenheimerwon seven Oscars and grossed nearly $1 billion. "Look, I love the filmmaking, but I did feel that it was a bit of a moral cop out." Cameron said he intends to make a film based off Charles Pellegrino's upcoming bookGhosts of Hiroshima,which highlights the brutal realities of the Hiroshima victims hit by the atom bomb in 1945. Of J. Robert Oppenheimer — the real-life physicist who helped create the atom bomb — Cameron said the man was well aware of the effects of his creation. "[Nolan's] got one brief scene in the film where we see — and I don't like to criticize another filmmaker's film — but there's only one brief moment where he sees some charred bodies in the audience and then the film goes on to show how it deeply moved him," Cameron noted. "But I felt that it dodged the subject. I don't know whether the studio or Chris felt that that was a third rail that they didn't want to touch, but I want to go straight at the third rail. I'm just stupid that way." Universal Pictures In a 2023 interview withVariety, Nolan acknowledged the criticism of his decision not to highlight the bomb's victims in his lengthy film. "The film presents Oppenheimer's experience subjectively," Nolan said at the time. "It was always my intention to rigidly stick to that. Oppenheimer heard about the bombing at the same time that the rest of the world did. I wanted to show somebody who is starting to gain a clearer picture of the unintended consequences of his actions. It was as much about what I don't show as what I show." When it comes to telling the victims' stories, Cameron said, "Okay, I'll put up my hand. I'll do it, Chris. No problem. You come to my premiere and say nice things." The bombs destroyed parts of Japan and killed more than 250,000 people, not to mention more over time as survivors died of the lasting effects of exposure. The dropping of the bombs is credited with ending World War II, and is the only time nuclear weapons have been used in armed conflict. "I don't want to get into the politics of, should it have been dropped, should they have done it, and all the bad things Japan did to warrant it, or any of that kind of moralizing and politicizing," Cameron explained. "I just want to deal in a sense with what happened, almost as if you could somehow be there and survive and see it." Kevin Winter/Getty As for his reason behind the decision to make the film, the Oscar winner believes the message is more important now than ever. "I just think it's so important right now for people to remember what these weapons do. This is the only case where they've been used against a human target," he said. "I want to make a film that just reminds people what these weapons do to people, and how absolutely unacceptable it is to even contemplate using them." 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 celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. And while he's not using Nolan or his film as a guidepost, Cameron is looking to another blockbuster auteur for inspiration. "I want to do for what happened at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, what Steven Spielberg did with the Holocaust and D-Day withSaving Private Ryan," he said of the 1998 film, which won Best Picture. "He showed it the way it happened." Cameron is known for his blockbuster, budget-busting films likeTitanicand theAvatarfranchise, he doesn't intend to have theGhosts of Hiroshimafollow in those footsteps. "I don't think it'll be one that'll be quick to make, but I don't see it as a massively budgeted film," he said, adding that "This may be a movie that I make that makes the least of any movie I've ever made, because I'm not going to be sparing, I'm not going to be circumspect." Cameron is currently locked into writing and directingAvatars 3,4and5in the coming years.Avatar: Fire and Ash, the franchise's third installment is set to hit theaters Dec. 19, 2025 with more to follow. Read the original article onPeople

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June 30, 2025

James Cameron Takes Issue with Christopher Nolan's Approach in “Oppenheimer”: It's a 'Moral Cop Out'

James Cameron Takes Issue with Christopher Nolan's Approach in "Oppenheimer": It's a 'Moral Cop Out' Marc Piasecki...

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Sarah Ferguson Makes First Wimbledon Royal Box Appearance in Decades. Last Time, She Was Beside Princess Diana

Sarah Ferguson Makes First Wimbledon Royal Box Appearance in Decades. Last Time, She Was Beside Princess Diana

PA Images via Getty; Karwai Tang/WireImage Sarah Ferguson returned to the Royal Box at Wimbledon on June 30, reportedly for the first time in decades The Duchess of York attended the first day of the tennis tournament with her daughter, Princess Beatrice Fergie and Beatrice sat in the Royal Box, taking a prime seat court side Sarah Fergusonis back in the Royal Box at Wimbledon for the first time since attending withPrincess Dianadecades ago. On June 30, the Duchess of York, who is popularly known as Fergie, attended the first day of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London. The Duchess of York, 65, arrived at the event with her daughter,Princess Beatriceas they took a prime seat in the Royal Box. Fergie and Princess Beatrice, 36, were animated fans in the stands as they watched the match between defending men's singles champion Carlos Alcaraz and Fabio Fognini on June 30. Karwai Tang/WireImage It was a meaningful day out for the mother-daughter duo, as Fergie is believed to have not sat in Wimbledon's Royal Box for 37 years — her last time being in 1988 alongside Princess Diana. While the Duchess was last photographed at the tournament in 2000, she reportedly hasn't attended since. The Duchess of Yorkpreviously told PEOPLEthat she and Diana, were "best friends from when I was 14 and she was 15," and credited the Princess of Wales with introducing her toPrince Andrew, whom she married in 1986 and divorced a decade later. Diana would have turned 64 on July 1. Professional Sport/Popperfoto via Getty Despite its regal name, the Royal Box at Wimbledon isn't reserved solely for royalty. While it's where All England Club patronKate Middletonand other members of the royal family are often seen during the tournament, invitations to sit there are extended by the club's chair — not the royals themselves. "British and overseas Royal Families are invited as well as heads of government, people from the world of tennis, commercial partners, British armed forces, prominent media organizations, supporters of British tennis and other walks of life," theWimbledon websitesays about how to score a seat. The courtside Royal Box has served as a VIP area since 1922 and includes access to a private clubhouse for lunch, along with a "smart" dress code. One specific rule stands out: no hats — so as not to block the view of the guest seated behind you! Karwai Tang/WireImage Other stars spotted at the first day of Wimbledon includedthe newly knighted David Beckham, Eddie Redmayne, former Wimbledon champ Maria Sharapova, Simu Liu and his fiancee, Allison Hsu, Jessica Alba and her daughter, Honor and more. Princess Beatrice and her husbandEdoardo Mapelli Mozzihave been regulars at Wimbledon in recent years, with Beatrice and Fergie kicking off what's sure to be a parade of royal appearances at the tennis tournament this year. The Wimbledon Championships run from June 30 to July 13, and another member of the British royal family was spotted in the stands on Monday. Karwai Tang/WireImage Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage?Sign up for our free Royals newsletterto get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! Cameras capturedKing Charles' cousin,Lady Gabriella Windsor, attending Wimbledon with a friend identified as Robert Denning. TheDaily Mailreported that Denning is a philanthropist and former entrepreneur, and the pair were photographed laughing and chatting as they watched the tennis. Lady Gabriella stepped out with Denning over a year after her husband,Thomas Kingston,died by suicideat age 45 in February 2024. Read the original article onPeople

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June 30, 2025

Sarah Ferguson Makes First Wimbledon Royal Box Appearance in Decades. Last Time, She Was Beside Princess Diana

Sarah Ferguson Makes First Wimbledon Royal Box Appearance in Decades. Last Time, She Was Beside Princess Diana PA Images via Getty; Karwai T...

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France's Macron calls tariffs imposed by powerful countries a form of 'blackmail'

France's Macron calls tariffs imposed by powerful countries a form of 'blackmail'

(Reuters) -French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that tariffs levied by powerful countries were often a form of "blackmail" rather than instruments to rebalance trade. His comments during a speech at the International Conference on Financing for Development in Seville, Spain, came with the European Union negotiating a trade deal with the United States ahead of a July 9 deadline, though he did not specifically refer to the United States or U.S. President Donald Trump. "We need to restore freedom and equity to international trade, much more than barriers and tariffs, which are devised by the strongest, and which are often used as instruments of blackmail, not at all as instruments of rebalancing," Macron said. He also urged support - and a rethinking - of the World Trade Organization to bring it in line with goals to fight inequality and climate change. "Bringing back a trade war and tariffs at this moment in the life of the planet is an aberration, especially when I see the tariffs that are being imposed on countries that are just beginning their economic takeoff," Macron said. Trump unveiled sweeping global tariffs in April in which he said countries would face taxes on imports into the United States ranging from 10% to 50%, though he later reversed course and mostly lowered them for 90 days. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Monday rejected Macron's characterization, insisting that tariffs were an effective tool to rebuild U.S. manufacturing. She said Trump remained in discussions on trade to aid American workers. "Europe and the rest of the world might not be used to that, but President Trump is back in town and he's going to do what's right for our people and our country," she said. The United Nations trade agency had said the tariffs could have a catastrophic impact on developing countries, with some of the world's least developed, such as Lesotho, Cambodia, Laos, Madagascar and Myanmar, facing some of the highest levies. Macron, a vocal critic of Washington's tariff campaign, has also said it is an aberration to ask Europeans to spend more on defence while launching a trade war. (Reporting by Makini Brice and Andrea Shalal; Editing by Mark Heinrich and Andrea Ricci)

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June 30, 2025

France's Macron calls tariffs imposed by powerful countries a form of 'blackmail'

France's Macron calls tariffs imposed by powerful countries a form of 'blackmail' (Reuters) -French President Emmanuel Macron sa...

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Key data used in hurricane forecasting will be cut by end of July, NOAA says

Key data used in hurricane forecasting will be cut by end of July, NOAA says

A satellite program that has historically been a key source of weather forecasting data will be discontinued by July 31, as the United States enters peak hurricane season, according to thealready resource-strappedNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The federal agency, which includes the National Weather Service, initially said last week that it was going to lose access to the satellite data by June 30. But in anupdateposted online on Monday, NOAA said the deadline to decommission the satellite system was pushed to July 31, at the request of a top official at NASA. Operated by the U.S. Department of Defense, theDefense Meteorological Satellite Programhas since the 1960s collected environmental information each day from satellites orbiting Earth, in order to provide real-time details about conditions in the atmosphere and oceans to the military. The data was made available to weather scientists for traditional forecasting purposes, after being processed by a branch of the Navy that focuses on meteorology and oceanography. Starting Aug. 1, that naval branch will no longer process or upload satellite data to the computing interface where meteorologists previously accessed it, according to NOAA. In an email that the agency reposted online, the deputy director of its Office of Satellite and Product Operations said the Navy decided to implement that change in efforts "to mitigate a significant cybersecurity risk" but would continue to distribute the data through the end of next month. A Navy spokesperson told CBS News in an email that it is "discontinuing contributions" to the satellite program "given the program no longer meets our information technology modernization requirements." NOAA spokesperson Kim Doster called it a "routine process of data rotation and replacement" in a statement to CBS News on Monday, adding that remaining data sources remaining "are fully capable of providing a complete suite of cutting-edge data and models that ensure the gold-standard weather forecasting the American people deserve." "The DMSP is a single dataset in a robust suite of hurricane forecasting and modeling tools in the NWS portfolio," said Doster, citing several other satellites that feed into the National Weather Service's forecasting models, including one launched recently that,accordingto the U.S. Space Force, "advances weather monitoring." The data cutoff from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program comes after NOAA lost a substantial chunk of its staff to layoffs and buyouts earlier this year, stemming from President Trump'sinitiative to reduce government spendingin part by shrinking the federal workforce. Hurricane season runs through Nov. 30, and NOAA forecasters said in May that they expected this one to bemore active than an average year. The season typically reaches its "peak," its most active period, around August and September. Saving money vs. saving lives Trump, DeSantis planning to visit "Alligator Alcatraz" on Tuesday Trump tells Republicans not to get "too crazy" on cuts in budget bill

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June 30, 2025

Key data used in hurricane forecasting will be cut by end of July, NOAA says

Key data used in hurricane forecasting will be cut by end of July, NOAA says A satellite program that has historically been a key source of ...

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Prince William's Charity Polo Match Drops Donor Who Was Allegedly Selling Access to Him and Kate Middleton

Prince William's Charity Polo Match Drops Donor Who Was Allegedly Selling Access to Him and Kate Middleton

Karwai Tang/WireImage Prince William's Royal Charity Polo Cup has terminated ties with a donor who was allegedly attempting to use the equestrian event to sell access to him and Kate Middleton PEOPLE confirms that the Royal Charity Polo Cup has ended a previous agreement with The Mondejar Gallery run by Minerva Mondejar Steiner According toThe Sunday Times, the Mondejar Foundation was attempting to sell private meetings with the Prince and Princess of Wales for around $27,000 Prince William's charity polo match has cut ties with a donor who was allegedly attempting to use the event to sell access to him andKate Middleton. On June 28,The Sunday Timesreported that millionaire Minerva Mondejar Steiner—whose Mondejar Gallery had been a sponsor of William's Royal Charity Polo Cup—allegedly sought to offer private meetings with the Prince and Princess of Wales, both 43, in exchange for donations. According to itswebsite, the Mondejar Gallery was founded by Mondejar Steiner in 2008 and describes itself as "a distinguished platform for contemporary art," with offices in Switzerland, London, the Philippines and Sydney. It also notes philanthropic support from the Mondejar Foundation. Following the publication of the allegations, swift action was taken. While there was no relationship between the Royal Charity Polo Cup and the Mondejar Foundation, PEOPLE confirms that organizers had entered into a sponsorship agreement with the Mondejar Gallery and are now in the process of terminating that arrangement. Prince William's charitable team was not aware of the Mondejar Foundation, nor of its attempts to solicit donations through an exclusive networking group called A Small World by offering access to the royal couple via the polo event. The Image Gate/Getty Mondejar Steiner declined to comment forThe Sunday Times. PEOPLE has independently reached out to her for a response. The controversy began with a report published Saturday byThe Sunday Times, which revealed that the Mondejar Foundation had allegedly offered access to Prince William and Princess Kate in exchange for a donation. According to the outlet, a screenshot of an email reportedly sent to members of the exclusive networking group A Small World pitched a "private audience" with the royal couple for approximately $27,362. The offer was tied to an invitation to the Royal Charity Polo Cup, reportedly scheduled for Friday, July 11 in Windsor. "As patron of the Mondejar Foundation, you're invited to support their philanthropic work through a charitable donation, in return for which you will be welcomed to this prestigious occasion," the email said, according toThe Sunday Times. "Hosted in the presence of members of the British Royal Family, and supported by the Mondejar Foundation, this highly exclusive gathering unites leading figures from philanthropy, fashion, the arts, and culture for a truly unforgettable day." With highlights including "free-flowing champagne" and "VIP polo matches in an intimate setting," the email listed "patron contributions" of about $8,208 as "admission for one patron" and $27,362 as including "full access plus a private audience with Prince William and Princess Catherine." According to the outlet, Mondejar Steiner's team also proffered the opportunity to meet Prince William to potential advertisers, which would be featured in a magazine distributed to everyone attending the polo match. For about $68,406, advertisers could buy a double-page spread with two "VVIP tickets" for seats at the match and "access to the royals." The Royal Charity Polo Match is a high-profile fundraiser for charities close to the Prince and Princess of Wales' hearts and an event Prince William has participated in for years. To date, the prestigious polo match has raised over $17 million for causes that William and Kate are passionate about and is an informal staple on their summer calendars. Chris Jackson/Getty The heir to the throneattended the July 2024 polo match solo, as Princess Kate had stepped back from public duties whileundergoing cancer treatment. In January, she announced she was in remission and has since gradually resumed a more regular schedule of royal engagements. The Princess of Wales last attended the Royal Charity Polo Match with William in July 2023, where the couple shareda rare public kissafter his team won. Chris Jackson/Getty Mondejar Steiner's ties to the Royal Charity Polo Cup aren't her only brush with royalty. In September 2024, she briefly metPrince Harryat the WellChild Awards in London and later sharedphotos of the encounter on Instagram. The WellChild Awards, hosted annually by the U.K.-based charity that supports seriously ill children and their families, have been championed by the Duke of Sussex, 40, in his role as patron since 2007. PEOPLE understands that Mondejar Steiner attended the event as a guest of another supporter and was briefly introduced to Prince Harry during a lineup of attendees. Their interaction amounted to a quick handshake and a photo. Chris Jackson/Getty Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage?Sign up for our free Royals newsletterto get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! She has not donated to WellChild, nor has she had any involvement with the organization since the event. PEOPLE understands that neither the Duke of Sussex nor WellChild will have any further association with Mondejar Steiner. Read the original article onPeople

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June 30, 2025

Prince William's Charity Polo Match Drops Donor Who Was Allegedly Selling Access to Him and Kate Middleton

Prince William's Charity Polo Match Drops Donor Who Was Allegedly Selling Access to Him and Kate Middleton Karwai Tang/WireImage Prince ...

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Rihanna and A$AP Rocky Tease Their Third Baby’s Name—and Whether It’s a Girl

Rihanna and A$AP Rocky Tease Their Third Baby's Name—and Whether It's a Girl

"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." THE RUNDOWN Rihanna and A$AP Rocky spoke toEntertainment TonightatThe Smurfs' Belgian premiere about their third baby. Both Rocky and Rihanna played coy when asked if they're having a girl. Rocky spoke about how big they want their family to be, while Rihanna confirmed they've made one big decision about their baby's name. Rihanna and A$AP Rocky did more than deliver amajor fashion momentat the Belgian premiere ofThe Smurfson Saturday. The couple spoke withEntertainment Tonightand opened up a bit about their expanding family. Rihanna, who isexpecting their third child, playfullyrevealedshe doesn't know if she'll be having a baby girl. Rocky and Rihanna have two sons, 3-year-old RZA and 1-year-old Riot, who will turn two in August. The reporter asked, "Is this the girl that you've been waiting for?" "Let's see if it's a Smurfette!" she teased. "You know!" he exclaimed. "No," she said. "Could be a Papa Smurf. Who knows!" She did confirm her child will have an R name though: "It's always going to be an R name. That's the one thing me and Rocky don't fight over." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Entertainment Tonight (@entertainmenttonight) The reporter also asked Rocky whether baby number three is the girl they've been waiting for. He played coy, too. "It is, man, it is," he said, raising a Smurfette plushie to dodge the question. "You know what I'm saying? Right here." He kept joking when asked how big their family might get. "We're going to be like the Wayans family [which has10 siblings], you know?" Then he added more seriously, "I mean love is beautiful, and it's just spreading it, you know?" View this post on Instagram A post shared by Entertainment Tonight (@entertainmenttonight) In February 2023, Rihanna spoke about how many children she'd like to have in aBritish Vogueinterview. "Listen, I'm down for whatever," she said. "My wish would be I would like to have more kids but whatever God wants for me, I'm here." You Might Also Like The 15 Best Organic And Clean Shampoos For Any And All Hair Types 100 Gifts That Are $50 Or Under (And Look Way More Expensive Than They Actually Are)

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June 30, 2025

Rihanna and A$AP Rocky Tease Their Third Baby’s Name—and Whether It’s a Girl

Rihanna and A$AP Rocky Tease Their Third Baby's Name—and Whether It's a Girl "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or...

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Missouri cereal plant worker dies after getting trapped inside oven

Missouri cereal plant worker dies after getting trapped inside oven

A worker at a Missouri cereal plant died Thursday after getting trapped in an industrial oven that was shut off, police said. Police in Perryville, Missouri, about 80 miles southeast of St. Louis, were called to a Gilster-Mary Lee cereal plant around 3 p.m., "for a male stuck in an industrial oven that was shut down," according toa news release. Once officers and other responders were able to get to the man, he was dead, police said. Police and the Perry County coroner's office identified the man as Nicolas Lopez Gomez, a 38-year-old Guatemalan national. He was working under the alias of Edward Avila, police said. It was not yet clear how the worker got trapped. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has been contacted about the incident and will conduct an investigation, Coroner Meghan Ellis said in a statement. "Our offices will work with them to determine how this occurred," she said. Gilster-Mary Lee did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Last year, a 19-year-old female employee at a Walmart in Canada wasfound dead inside a walk-in ovenat the store's bakery department. The death was not suspicious,police saidfollowing an investigation. Video shows Arizona police rescuing baby left alone for days Saving money vs. saving lives View from inside Iran after Israeli and U.S. strikes, and what could come next

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June 30, 2025

Missouri cereal plant worker dies after getting trapped inside oven

Missouri cereal plant worker dies after getting trapped inside oven A worker at a Missouri cereal plant died Thursday after getting trapped ...

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Supreme Court orders new review of transgender cases by lower courts

Supreme Court orders new review of transgender cases by lower courts

WASHINGTON – TheSupreme Courton June 30 said lower courts must reconsider their decisions that government-sponsored insurance plans must pay for gender-affirming care, taking into account the justices' recent landmark rulingupholdingTennessee's ban on gender affirming care for minors. The court also directed a reconsideration of a decision allowing transgender people to challenge Oklahoma's refusal to let them change their gender designation on their birth certificate. All of the cases at least partly turn on the Constitution's guarantee that governments should treat people equally, the same legal issue the court weighed when finding Tennessee's ban did not violate that protection. More:Supreme Court upholds state ban on transgender minors using puberty blockers, hormone therapy But the court's 6-3 decision left unanswered how its ruling might apply to bans on transgender participation in school sports, bans on transgender care for adults, and other issues. The Richmond-based 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had ruled North Carolina's and West Virginia's refusal to cover certain health care for transgender people is discriminatory. West Virginia's Medicaid program had prohibited "transsexual surgery" because of "concerns like cost and effectiveness." North Carolina's health plan for state employees excluded treatments "leading to or in connection with sex changes or modifications." North Carolina argued that, as part of the difficult choices it has to make to keep health care coverage affordable, it can exclude certain treatments as long as there's no proof of "invidious discrimination." Dozens of state Medicaid and employee health care plans across the country have similar exclusions, according to North Carolina. The appeals court said both states' coverage exclusions discriminate on the basis of sex and gender identity and do not advance an important government interest. The divided panel also said West Virginia's prohibition violated the Medicaid Act and the Affordable Care Act. In a related case, the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said Idaho's head of Medicaid can be sued for not approving sex-reassignment surgery. That decision must now be reconsidered. 'Cruelty over care':Transgender care advocates blast Supreme Court In the Oklahoma case, the Denver-based 10thU.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last yearsaidthree transgender people could challengeOklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt's banon allowing transgender people to get new birth certificates to match their gender identity. "I believe that people are created by God to be male or female. Period," Stitt, the governor, said in 2021. A federal district judge dismissed the challenge to Stitt's executive order. But the 10thCircuit Court of Appeals overturned that decision last year. A three-judge panel said the policy likely discriminates against transgender people and has no legitimate justification. The court rejected the state's argument that changing birth certificates diminishes the accuracy of birth statistics. Oklahoma retains the original birth certificates so "the same statistics are available, regardless of whether the Policy exists," the court wrote. The original birth certificates can also be used to enforce Oklahoma's ban on transgender athletes competing in women's sports, the court added. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Supreme Court tells lower courts to reconsider transgender cases

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June 30, 2025

Supreme Court orders new review of transgender cases by lower courts

Supreme Court orders new review of transgender cases by lower courts WASHINGTON – TheSupreme Courton June 30 said lower courts must reconsid...

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