Dwayne Johnson, Oscar contender? ‘The Smashing Machine’ starts buzz at Venice Film Festival

Dwayne Johnson, Oscar contender? 'The Smashing Machine' starts buzz at Venice Film Festival

Dwayne Johnson takes a serious turn as UFC fighter Mark Kerr in "The Smashing Machine," which has its world premiere Monday at theVenice Film Festival. Reviews aren't out yet, but the actor is already sparkingOscarbuzz for his transformation in the film from Benny Safdie. The festival has launched several recent best actor Oscar winners, fromBrendan Fraser in "The Whale"toAdrien Brody in "The Brutalist."Like both of those films, "The Smashing Machine" is being released by A24. Venice's artistic director Alberto Barbera said he wouldn't be surprised to see Johnson, who he called "absolutely amazing" in the film, and Emily Blunt, who plays Kerr's wife, among the Oscar nominees next year. "When I saw the first images in last January, I thought it could be a good out of competition contender," Barbera told The Associated Press earlier this week. "But then when I saw the film, I realized that it's a great movie." Kerr is a two-time UFC heavyweight tournament winner and MMA fighter who retired in 2009. Known as "The Smashing Machine," Kerr also struggled with addition to painkillers and opioids, overdosing twice. Before Johnson was best known as the star of franchises like "Jumanji" and the "Fast & Furious" series, as well as a producer and business owner, he made his name in wrestling. A third-generation wrestler, he won eight WWE championships. Safdie is an actor, who recently appeared in "Oppenheimer" and "Happy Gilmore 2," and filmmaker who, along with his brother Josh, codirected"Uncut Gems." In his director's statement for "The Smashing Machine," Safdie called the title, "a perfect onomatopoeia for something visual, conjuring images of domination and destruction with ease." He added, "Dwayne, Emily and I kept thought 'what is it like to really be Mark Kerr, what is it like to really be Dawn Staples?' We wanted to empathize with these characters in a way that felt like our own feelings… I wanted this movie to exist as a memory for everyone who watches it." The film is playing in the main competition, with titles like"Frankenstein,""Bugonia,""The Voice of Hind Rajab,""La Grazia" and "No Other Choice" also vying for the top prizes, including acting and directing awards. Winners will be announced on Sept. 6. "The Smashing Machine" will open in North American theaters on Oct. 3. ___ For more coverage of the 2025 Venice Film Festival, visithttps://apnews.com/hub/venice-film-festival.

byAlpha World

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August 31, 2025

Dwayne Johnson, Oscar contender? ‘The Smashing Machine’ starts buzz at Venice Film Festival

Dwayne Johnson, Oscar contender? 'The Smashing Machine' starts buzz at Venice Film Festival Dwayne Johnson takes a serious turn as U...

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Kim Novak on Her Venice Film Festival Doc ‘Kim Novak’s Vertigo’: ‘ It Was a Chance to Wrap Up My Life’

Kim Novak on Her Venice Film Festival Doc 'Kim Novak's Vertigo': ' It Was a Chance to Wrap Up My Life'

Kim Novak decided to walk away from Hollywood in 1966, at the height of her fame, because it felt like the right thing to do. The screen legend, now 92, also trusted her instincts last year when director Alexandre O. Philippe asked her to be the subject of a documentary. "I felt somehow that it was meant to be," says Novak. More from Variety Onslaught of Italian Movies Set to Hit Fall Festival Circuit, Signaling 'Great Resurgence' of Cinema Italiano Tony Leung Already Wants to Reunite With His 'Silent Friend' Helmer But Marvel Sequel Still Up in the Air: 'I Go With the Flow' (EXCLUSIVE) Cate Blanchett Beams as Jim Jarmusch's Family Tale 'Father Mother Sister Brother' Scores 5-Minute Venice Ovation Philippe's doc "Kim Novak's Vertigo" blends rare archival footage with personal reflections from Novak to trace her path from mid-century cinema icon to a fiercely private artist. "I thought it was a good idea to make [this film] in a way because it was a chance to wrap up my life," says Novak. "Like you would in a confessional, I expressed the things that mattered and meant something to my life." The film debuted Sept. 1 at the Venice Film Festival, where Novak will receive the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement. Novak inadvertently became a screen legend at the age of 21 when she traveled to Los Angeles from Chicago in search of modeling jobs. Novak was immediately "discovered" and, after signing a contract at Columbia Pictures, became a Hollywood star. She also became the world's top box office draw during the late 1950s and early 1960s thanks to films now considered classics such as Joshua Logan's "Picnic" (1955), Otto Preminger's "The Man With the Golden Arm" (1955), George Sidney's Pal Joey (1957) and, of course, Alfred Hitchock's "Vertigo" (1958), in which she plays dual characters in the role of her lifetime. In addition to starring in movies alongside Jimmy Stewart and Frank Sinatra, Novak created her own production company and went on strike to renegotiate a salary. But after a decade or so in the spotlight, Novak abandoned Hollywood for a simpler life in Oregon. "This Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement celebrates a star who was emancipated, a rebel at the heart of Hollywood who illuminated the dreams of movie lovers before retiring to her ranch in Oregon to dedicate herself to painting and to her horses," said Venice Film Festival chief Alberto Barbera. Initially, Philippe reached out to Novak about a documentary he was working on that focused on the final sequence of "Vertigo." The director wanted to "get Kim on the record." "The way it unfolded is that Sue Cameron (Novak's manager) eventually reached out and said she had watched some of my films and she'd been looking for someone to make a portrait of Kim for a long time," says Philippe. "She said, 'I think you're the guy. Would you be interested in talking to Kim?' So, of course, I said yes immediately." The result is a 77-minute doc that is not a typical chronological biopic of a star, but instead an intimate portrait of a human being reflecting on an extraordinary career, and the, arguably, ordinary upbringing that led to it. "When you make a portrait of someone, there are a million ways you can approach it, and the last thing that I'm interested in doing is to make a highlight reel," said Philippe. "If you think that is the most relevant story about Kim Novak, then watching this film might not be for you. This is a personal film for Kim, and a personal film for me. This is the first time that I'm putting myself in one of my films, and while it wasn't the intention in the beginning, it became clear very quickly that our connection is what gives the film an emotional spine. It's about understanding Kim and uncovering her personal truth, as well as my passion for 'Vertigo.'" In the doc, Novak reveals that her father wasn't a fan of her success and that her mother always told her that she "was the captain of her own ship." "I had no idea really how much of an influence [my mother] was having on me to do as she believed and wanted me to follow through on," says Novak. "Because I think she probably felt how important that was and that maybe she wanted me to do all the things that she wished she could have done." Novak invited Philippe to go through her attic, which contained a treasure trove of photographs, diaries, and scrapbooks. "There were boxes upon boxes upon boxes in her attic," says Philippe. "One of the greatest joys of working on this project was that when she opened her attic to me, we would go through everything in real time. She didn't know what was in there — I found some things of hers that she didn't know existed. Things that she hadn't seen in probably decades. That process of discovery was so special and fun." One box, that hadn't been open in decades, contained the gray suit Novak wore as Madeleine Elster in "Vertigo." "My memory of that suit is how much I didn't like it," Novak says. "It was stiff. I always felt like I was wearing a straitjacket. I also just didn't like the way it looked on me. I didn't identify with it, but of course, that's what made it right in the movie." Philippe captures Novak unsealing the box. "When I opened the box and touched it, it suddenly wasn't stiff," says Novak. "It was so soft. It had gotten soft over the years, and it made me realize how I probably got softer in my years, too, through experience. That touched me deeply because it showed how time can make such a difference in how you look at things and how you definitely learn to appreciate everything in life. The closer you get to death, you realize what an incredible thing life is." The film also delves into Novak's feelings about her beauty, which she describes as "wearing a crown of thorns." "I still look at it that way," says Novak. "Of course, it's what got me there, but because to me, especially in Hollywood, it was a handicap in a way. I mean. It's why they always wanted me to play parts that were about how you looked more than how you feel. There were movies that I would have loved to have been a part of because I could have gotten into the depth of my feelings rather than just reacting to how I looked." Novak's complicated, love-hate relationship with Hollywood is dissected throughout the documentary. "Ultimately, the film is about a woman who has had to fight constantly to remain true to herself, against forces that tried to mold and shape her into someone she was not," says Philippe. "The film, of course, is called "Kim Novak's Vertigo," and the structure of the film is a four-act structure, but it's a spiral structure. We keep coming back to this idea of Kim leaving Hollywood, but each time we come back to that, it is for a different reason." Best of Variety Samsung, Sonos, Criterion Collection Among Top Brands on Sale for Labor Day - See Running List Here What's Coming to Disney+ in September 2025 New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Sign up forVariety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us onFacebook,Twitter, andInstagram.

byAlpha World

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August 31, 2025

Kim Novak on Her Venice Film Festival Doc ‘Kim Novak’s Vertigo’: ‘ It Was a Chance to Wrap Up My Life’

Kim Novak on Her Venice Film Festival Doc 'Kim Novak's Vertigo': ' It Was a Chance to Wrap Up My Life' Kim Novak decided...

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A strong earthquake in eastern Afghanistan kills at least 250 people and injures 500

A strong earthquake in eastern Afghanistan kills at least 250 people and injures 500

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — A strong earthquake in eastern Afghanistan near the Pakistan border has killed at least 250 people and injured at least 500 others, officials said. The quake late Sunday hit a series of towns in the province of Kunar, near the city of Jalalabad in neighboring Nangahar province. The 6.0 magnitude at 11:47 p.m. was centered 27 kilometers (17 miles) east-northeast of the city of Jalalabad in Nangarhar province, the U.S. Geological Survey said. It was just 8 kilometers (5 miles) deep. Shallower quakes tend to cause more damage. The Kunar Disaster Management Authority said in a statement that at least 250 people were killed and 500 others injured in the districts of Nur Gul, Soki, Watpur, Manogi and Chapadare. Jalalabad is a bustling trade city due to its proximity with neighboring Pakistan and a key border crossing between the countries. Although it has a population of about 300,000 according to the municipality, it's metropolitan area is thought to be far larger. Most of its buildings are low-rise constructions, mostly of concrete and brick, and its outlying areas include homes built of mud bricks and wood. Many are of poor construction. Jalalabad also has considerable agriculture and farming, including citrus fruit and rice, with the Kabul River flowing through the city. A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struckAfghanistan on Oct. 7, 2023, followed by strong aftershocks. The Taliban government estimated at least 4,000 people perished. The U.N. gave a far lower death toll of about 1,500. It was the deadliest natural disaster to strike Afghanistan in recent memory.

byAlpha World

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August 31, 2025

A strong earthquake in eastern Afghanistan kills at least 250 people and injures 500

A strong earthquake in eastern Afghanistan kills at least 250 people and injures 500 KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — A strong earthquake in easter...

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Houthis storm UN buildings in Yemeni capital after Israel killed PM and other ministers

Houthis storm UN buildings in Yemeni capital after Israel killed PM and other ministers

Iran-backed Houthi rebels stormed the offices of two United Nations agencies in the Yemeni capital Sanaa on Sunday, a day after Israel said it killed the prime minister of the rebel-controlled government. The offices the World Food Programme (WFP) and the United Nations children's agency (UNICEF) were "entered by local security forces" on Sunday morning, spokespersons for the agencies told CNN in separate statements. A WFP staff member was detained, as were a number of UNICEF staff members, according to the statements. Hans Grundberg, the United Nations special envoy for Yemen, later confirmed that at least 11 UN personnel were detained, adding that he "strongly" condemns the detentions, as well as the forced entry into UN premises. António Guterres, the UN's secretary-general, also strongly condemned the Houthis' actions, calling for "the immediate and unconditional release" of those detained by the rebel group. Guterres noted that others working for the UN, as well as people working with NGOs, civil society and diplomatic missions, have been arbitrarily detained in Yemen since 2021. "The personnel of the UN and its partners must never be targeted, arrested or detained while carrying out their duties for the UN," he said. "The United Nations will continue to work tirelessly to secure the safe and immediate release of all arbitrarily detained individuals." The WFP and UNICEF are "urgently seeking additional information" from local authorities, their spokespersons told CNN, adding: "Our immediate priority is the safety and well-being of our staff." It is unclear whether the raids were related to Israel's attacks. The Houthis have previously targeted the UN and other international organizations. The information minister with the UN-backed government, Moammar al-Eryani, strongly condemned the Houthis' actions, Yemeni state news agency SABA NEWS reported. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that the strikes that killed Ahmed al-Rahawi, the prime minister ofYemen'sHouthi rebels, are "only the beginning" of his country's campaign against the group. Al-Rahawi was killed alongside other Houthi officials in a strike on Sanaa on Thursday, the head of the Houthis' Supreme Political Council confirmed, vowing revenge for the attack. The rebel groupregularly launches missilesat Israel, as well as attacks onvessels in the Red Sea, in what it says is revenge for Israel's offensive in Gaza. Netanyahu has pledged that the Houthis will "pay a very heavy price for their aggression against the State of Israel." "We are doing what no one has done before us, and this is only the beginning of the strikes on senior officials in Sanaa - we will get to all of them," the Israeli leader told a government meeting on Sunday. Since 2014, Yemen has been split between a Houthi government which controls Sanaa and much of the north, and a rival but more widely recognized administration in the south. CNN's Eugenia Yosef, Max Saltman and Billy Stockwell contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

byAlpha World

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August 31, 2025

Houthis storm UN buildings in Yemeni capital after Israel killed PM and other ministers

Houthis storm UN buildings in Yemeni capital after Israel killed PM and other ministers Iran-backed Houthi rebels stormed the offices of two...

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Robin Wright Says Leaving the U.S. for England Has Been 'Liberating': 'America Is a S---show'

Robin Wright Says Leaving the U.S. for England Has Been 'Liberating': 'America Is a S---show'

VALERY HACHE/AFP via Getty Robin Wright is opening up about her choice to leave the U.S. and rent a house on the English seaside "America is a s---show," she said in a new interview withThe Times. "There's a freedom of self here. People are so kind. They're living" The actress also opened up about her new relationship with architect Henry Smith, saying: "He is a sweetheart and just a good, decent adult" Robin Wrighthas a new country to call home — and she isn't regretting her decision to move in the slightest. In a new interview withThe Times, published on Sunday, Aug. 31, the actress, 59, shared that she and her boyfriend, architect Henry Smith, are renting a home on the English seaside. "It's liberating to be done," Wright told the outlet. "Be done with searching, looking and getting 60 percent of what you wanted." TheHouse of Cardsalum, who was born in Texas and raised in California, was candid about wanting to get out of the U.S., telling the newspaper: "America is a s---show." "I love being in this country," she added of England. "There's a freedom of self here. People are so kind. They're living. They're not in the car in traffic, panicked on a phone call, eating a sandwich. That's most of America. Everything's rush, competition and speed." Pascal Le Segretain/Getty According to theForrest Gumpstar, her decision to move was partially influenced by the noise of Los Angeles. "Everyone's building a huge house, and I'm just done with all that — I love the quiet. And I've met my person. Finally," she added, referring to 52-year-old Smith. Wright recalled meeting her now-boyfriend — and joked that they had some choice words for each other the first time they crossed paths. According to the model, she was sitting in a pub at the time, and asked a man if she could feed his dog when the man directed his attention to her now-boyfriend. "He goes, 'No, it's not my dog, it's his dog,' " she recalled of their first meeting. Darren Gerrish/WireImage Getty "Henry was standing at the bar, 6'2", and he put his pint down, came over to me and grabbed my shoulders," theHereactress recalled. "He goes, 'Who the f--- are you?' And I said, 'Who the f--- are you?' And that was it." "He is a sweetheart and just a good, decent adult. He's a man," she continued of Smith. According toTheTimes,Wright said it was "so relaxing" to be "seen and loved for who I am" after she began her relationship with Smith. 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. "That's exactly what I wanted," she shared. "I'm turning 60 and I'm, like, 'Is this it?' I love being alone and I've done that many times. But I'm, like, 'I want to grow old with somebody, and travel and see the world.' " ThePrincess Brideactress was previously married toSean Pennfrom 1996 to 2010. The former couple share two children: daughter Dylan, 34, and son Hopper, 32. Wright later wedClement Giraudetin 2018, beforefiling for divorcefrom the fashion executive in the summer of 2022, citing irreconcilable differences. She also had a brief marriage to thelateSanta Barbaraactor Dane Witherspoonfrom 1986 until their divorce two years later. Read the original article onPeople

byAlpha World

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August 31, 2025

Robin Wright Says Leaving the U.S. for England Has Been 'Liberating': 'America Is a S---show'

Robin Wright Says Leaving the U.S. for England Has Been 'Liberating': 'America Is a S---show' VALERY HACHE/AFP via Getty Rob...

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Hays hits tiebreaking homer and Reds deck Cards to stop 5-game slide

Hays hits tiebreaking homer and Reds deck Cards to stop 5-game slide

CINCINNATI (AP) — Austin Hays hit a tiebreaking two-run homer and Matt McLain went deep for the second consecutive game to back a solid start by Brady Singer as the Cincinnati Reds beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-4 on Sunday to snap a five-game skid and avoid a series sweep. Elly De La Cruz hit his 28th double leading off the fifth inning against Andre Pallante (6-13), and Hays followed with his 12th homer for a 5-3 lead. Hays doubled and scored on Ke'Bryan Hayes' two-out single for a 6-4 lead in the seventh, and McLain capped the scoring with his 13th homer — a solo shot off Andre Granillo in the eighth. Singer (12-9) allowed three runs and five hits in six innings with eight strikeouts and no walks. Tony Santillan struck out the side in the eighth and Emilio Pagán did the same in the ninth for his 26th save. TWINS 7, PADRES 2 MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Byron Buxton set a career best with his 29th home run and Joe Ryan pitched seven scoreless innings as Minnesota beat San Diego. Buxton and Royce Lewis each had two hits for the Twins, who took two of three games in the series. San Diego began the day a game behind the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West. Ryan (13-7) scattered five hits and struck out eight. He threw a season-high 104 pitches while bouncing back from a pair of rough outings. The All-Star right-hander allowed 11 earned runs in nine innings over his previous two starts. Buxton sent a changeup from Kyle Hart (3-3) three rows deep into the left-field seats for a two-run shot that gave Minnesota a 2-0 lead in the third. It was his fourth homer in four games, surpassing his previous season best of 28 home runs in 2022. Recalled from Triple-A El Paso earlier in the day, Hart permitted three runs in 1 1/3 innings of relief as the Padres went with a bullpen game. He hit Luke Keaschall with a pitch to start the Minnesota fourth, and he scored on a single by James Outman. Keaschall and Lewis had RBI singles in a three-run fifth to make it 6-0. RED SOX 5, PIRATES 2 BOSTON (AP) — Jarren Duran hit an inside-the-park homer, Lucas Giolito pitched six effective innings and Boston beat Pittsburgh to avert a three-game sweep. In a tight race for one of three American League wild cards, the Red Sox won for the eighth time in 11 games. Alexander Canario hit a solo homer over the Green Monster for Pittsburgh, which had won nine of 12. Duran's three-run homer into the Fenway Park triangle in right-center field capped a four-run fifthagainst starter Mitch Keller (6-13), pushing Boston ahead 4-1. Coming off his best start of the season, when he went eight shutout innings last Tuesday in a victory over Baltimore, Giolito (10-2) gave up a run and three hits. He struck out six and walked five. Aroldis Chapman got three outs for his 27th save. RAYS 7, NATIONALS 4 WASHINGTON (AP) — Brandon Lowe hit a grand slam in Tampa Bay's six-run second inning, Everson Pereira drove in two runs and the Rays beat Washington to sweep the three-game series. Tampa Bay starter Ian Seymour (3-0) gave up four runs — one earned — and four hits with eight strikeouts. Pete Fairbanks pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save this season. Dylan Crews singled to lead off the ninth and moved to third on a single by Daylen Lile, who tried to stretch it into a double but was thrown out by Pereira at second before Brady House struck out swinging to end the game. Josh Lowe tripled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Pereira to make 7-0 in the third. Jacob Young doubled to drive in House in the third. Riley Adams walked to lead off the fourth and scored when Crews reached on a fielding error by third baseman Junior Caminero. House singled to drive in two runs that made it 7-4. Nationals starter Brad Lord (4-8) allowed seven runs and five hits in three innings. BLUE JAYS 8, BREWERS 4 TORONTO (AP) — Myles Straw and Nathan Lukes each drove in two runs, George Springer reached base three times and scored twice and Toronto beat Milwaukee to avoid a three-game sweep. Tommy Nance (2-0) pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the fifth inning as Toronto improved to 59-4 when scoring at least five runs. Nance was one of five relievers who combined for five shutout innings in relief of a shaky Max Scherzer. William Contreras hit a two-run home run, his 17th, and Brice Turang added a solo shot, his 16th, but the Brewers failed to set a club record with a 22nd win in August. Milwaukee went 21-9 this month. The Brewers still own the best record in baseball at 85-53. Scherzer allowed four runs and a season-high nine hits in four innings. MARINERS 4, GUARDIANS 2 CLEVELAND (AP) - Julio Rodríguez drove in two runs with an infield hit and Seattle snapped a seven-game road losing streak with a victory over Cleveland to salvage the three-game series finale. With a combined two-hitter, the Mariners extended their lead to three games over the Guardians for the third AL wild-card spot. Seattle entered play two games up on Kansas City. Randy Arozarena hit a two-run homer for the Mariners, who got six strong innings from Bryce Miller (4-5). The right-hander gave up just two hits — on consecutive pitches in the third. Gabe Speier and Matt Brash each pitched a perfect inning and Andrés Muñoz worked the ninth for his 32nd save. MARLINS 5, METS 1 NEW YORK (AP) — Sandy Alcantara pitched seven strong innings, Agustín Ramírez hit a two-run homer and Miami defeated New York in a game that got testy. The scappy Marlins took three of four from New York after losing their previous seven series. The Mets finished 11-17 in August despite scoring 177 runs and hitting 53 homers — both franchise records for a calendar month. New York leads Cincinnati by four games in the race for the last National League wild card. Alcantara (7-11) allowed four hits and struck out six. He carried a shutout into the seventh, when he gave up a leadoff single to Jeff McNeil and plunked Mark Vientos with a pitch. Alcantara and Vientos stared each other down before the benches and bullpens emptied, though no punches were thrown as players milled around the mound. Alcantara induced a pair of forceouts, the second of which scored McNeil, before striking out Starling Marte to end the inning. The right-hander has a 2.82 ERA in his past eight starts after opening the season with a 7.14 ERA through 19 outings. Senga allowed five runs in 4 2/3 innings. He has a 5.90 ERA in nine starts since coming off the injured list July 11. ANGELS 3, ASTROS 0 HOUSTON (AP) — José Soriano and two relievers combined for a two-hitter and Oswald Peraza hit his first home run since a trade from the Yankees to lead Los Angeles to a win over the Houston. Soriano (10-9) allowed one hit and struck out eight in seven innings. Luis García allowed one hit in a scoreless eighth and Kenley Jansen threw a perfect ninth for his 25th save. There were two outs in the fifth when Peraza connected off Hunter Brown (10-7) into the bullpen in right-center field to put the Angels up 1-0. His homer comes after his two-run single in the ninth inning Saturday helped Los Angeles to a 4-1 victory that snapped a three-game skid. Brown allowed three hits and a run with five strikeouts in six innings. McCullers Jr. allowed three hits and two runs in his first relief appearance since 2018. TIGERS 5, ROYALS 0 KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Tarik Skubal pitched seven innings of four-hit ball, the Tigers scored four times off Michael Wacha in the fifth inning, and Detroit went on to beat Kansas City in the rubber game of its three-game set. Skubal (12-4) struck out four and walked one while bouncing back from his first loss in more than six weeks. Jake Rogers drove in two runs for Detroit, while Colt Keith and Gleyber Torres also drove in runs. It was a crucial game between AL Central rivals. The Tigers began the day with a half-game lead over East-leading Toronto for the best record in the American League, while Kansas City had climbed within two games of Seattle in the wild-card race. Wacha (8-11) was matching Skubal into the fifth, allowing a single baserunner while striking out four. But things suddenly went awry, beginning with a leadoff walk to Spencer Torkelson and a one-out single by Zach McKinstry. Rogers followed with a fly ball that center fielder Tyler Tolbert badly misplayed, resulting in a two-run triple. Keith added a line drive that found a gap for a two-run double, and Torres a grounder that got through the infield to make it 4-0. Wacha left after 4 2/3 innings. He was charged with four runs and four hits and a walk. WHITE SOX 3, YANKEES 2 CHICAGO (AP) — Lenyn Sosa hit a tiebreaking solo homer in the eighth inning and Chicago cooled off New York with a victory. Sosa drove a 1-2 sinker from Tim Hill over the wall in center field for his 18th homer, extending his career high. Hill (4-4) retired his first two batters before Sosa went deep. Cam Booser (2-4) got one out for the win. After Booser issued a leadoff walk to Trent Grisham in the ninth, Mike Vasil retired Paul Goldschmidt, Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger for his third save. New York had won a season-high seven in a row. It also had a nine-game road win streak. The Yankees fell three games back of AL East-leading Toronto, which held off Milwaukee for an 8-4 win. ROCKIES 6, CUBS 5 DENVER (AP) — Pinch-hitter Mickey Moniak hit a walk-off RBI triple, Tanner Gordon struck out a career-high nine and Colorado beat Chicago to avoid a series sweep. The major league-worst Rockies snapped a four-game losing streak to improve to 39-98. They finished August with 11 wins, their most in any month this season. Orlando Arcia had three hits and an RBI for Colorado, and Braxton Fulford added two hits and an RBI. Ryan Ritter had two hits and scored the winning run, and Brenton Doyle drove in two runs. Gordon allowed two earned runs in six innings. Juan Mejia (2-1) picked up the win, striking out two in a perfect ninth. Daniel Palencia (1-5) took the loss. DODGERS 5, DIAMONDBACKS 4 LOS ANGELES (AP) — Pinch-hitter Will Smith homered leading off the bottom of the ninth inning to give Los Angeles a victory over Arizona that prevented a three-game sweep. Los Angeles took a two-game lead in the NL West over rival San Diego,which lost 7-2 at Minnesota. Smith sent the second pitch he saw from reliever John Curtiss (2-1) a projected 420 feet into the left-center stands. His 17th home run of the season saved the Dodgers after they blew a late lead. Corbin Carroll tied it 4-all by launching a three-run homer off Tanner Scott with two outs in the eighth. Blake Treinen (1-2) pitched a perfect inning for the win. Yoshinobu Yamamoto allowed one run in seven innings and matched his career high with 10 strikeouts for the Dodgers. He retired his first 10 batters before Ketel Marte bunted for a single. RANGERS 9, ATHLETICS 6 WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Joc Pederson homered, doubled and drove in three runs, Jacob deGrom struck out six in five scoreless innings, and Texas beat the Athletics to sweep the three-game series. DeGrom (10-6) allowed two hits and walked one to help the Rangers win their fifth straight game. Josh Smith walked to leadoff the game, Wyatt Langford struck out and Pederson hit a 3-2 pitch from J.T. Ginn (2-6) down the line and over the wall in right field to make it 2-0. Josh Jung homered off Ginn to lead off the second and doubled to drive in Adolis García in the ninth. Smith hit an RBI double and scored when Pederson doubled with two out in the fifth to give the Rangers a 5-0 lead. Langford drew a bases-loaded walk to bring home Ezequiel Duran before Helman singled to drive in Smith and make it 7-0. GIANTS 13, ORIOLES 2 SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Rafael Devers homered, doubled and drove in two runs to help Justin Verlander earn career win No. 265 as San Francisco beat Baltimore to take two of three games in their series. Verlander (3-10) struck out a season-high 10 in five shutout innings. He threw 121 pitches — his most since June 2018. He allowed three hits and walked four. The 42-year-old Verlander reached 10 strikeouts for the 73rd time and first since he had 10 against Philadelphia on Oct. 4, 2022. He tied Jim McCormick for 39th place in wins and pulled within four strikeouts of Gaylord Perry (3,534) for eighth on the career list. Devers homered off Tomoyuki Sagano (10-7) for a 1-0 lead in the first. It was his 28th of the season and 13th for the Giants. Drew Gilbert, Heliot Ramos and Devers had consecutive singles in the third for a two-run lead, and Willy Adames added a sacrifice fly. Gilbert hit a two-run triple before scoring on Ramos' single for a 7-0 advantage in the fourth. Devers doubled to chase Sugano, who allowed seven runs and 10 hits in 3 1/3 innings. Dominic Smith had an RBI single off Corbin Martin in a three-run sixth. Devers, Ramos and Gilbert each had three of the Giants' 16 hits. Spencer Bivens allowed two runs in the ninth but pitched the final three innings for his first career save. BRAVES 3, PHILLIES 1 PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Drake Baldwin broke a ninth-inning tie with a two-run homer and Atlanta avoided a four-game sweep with a win over Philadelphia. Braves rookie Hurston Waldrep pitched 5 2/3 strong innings. Jake Fraley came off the bench in the seventh and went 2 for 2. Michael Harris II also had two hits for Atlanta. Brandon Marsh homered for the Phillies, who lead the NL East by six games over the New York Mets heading into September. Matt Olson tied it at 1 with an RBI groundout for the Braves in the eighth. Fraley started the ninth with an infield single off José Alvarado (4-2) and went to second on a sacrifice bunt. Vidal Bruján struck out, but Baldwin drove Alvarado's first pitch, a 98 mph sinker, over the wall in left field. Baldwin walked as a pinch hitter in the eighth and remained in the game at catcher. Tyler Kinley (4-3) tossed a perfect eighth and Raisel Iglesias struck out two in a 1-2-3 ninth for his 23rd save in 28 chances. Waldrep continued to impress, giving up one run on four hits with nine strikeouts and four walks. After starting two games in 2024, the 23-year-old right-hander, the No. 24 overall draft pick in 2023, was called up to the Braves on Aug. 2 and has a 1.01 ERA in six outings, including five starts. Phillies starter Jesús Luzardo pitched 6 2/3 scoreless innings, giving up two hits while striking out seven and walking one.

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August 31, 2025

Hays hits tiebreaking homer and Reds deck Cards to stop 5-game slide

Hays hits tiebreaking homer and Reds deck Cards to stop 5-game slide CINCINNATI (AP) — Austin Hays hit a tiebreaking two-run homer and Matt ...

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Charles Bierbauer, former CNN correspondent, dies at 83

Charles Bierbauer, former CNN correspondent, dies at 83

Former CNN correspondent Charles Bierbauer has died, his family announced on Sunday. He was 83 years old. Bierbauer retired from CNN in 2001 after two decades covering news in Washington, DC, and around the world. He joined CNN in 1981 to cover the Pentagon as a defense correspondent. He was then the network's senior White House correspondent for nine years, covering the administrations of Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. He also served as the network's senior Washington correspondent, highlighting his deep knowledge of the US presidency, policy and politics. The veteran journalist traveled with presidents to all 50 states and more than 30 nations, and he served as president of the White House Correspondents' Association from 1991 to 1992. He also covered presidential campaigns between 1984 and 2000, as well as the Supreme Court. Bierbauer won an Emmy for his coverage of the 1996 Olympic Park bombing in Atlanta. He also anchored CNN's "Newsmaker Saturday," a weekly show featuring interviews with top newsmakers, for a decade. "Charles Bierbauer was a cherished member of the CNN family, who covered everything from the White House and the Pentagon to the Supreme Court during his two decades with the network," said a CNN spokesperson Sunday. "A tireless reporter and wonderful colleague, Charles will be remembered for his outstanding journalism and his willingness to help others." Longtime CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer said in a statement Sunday Bierbauer had been a mentor to him. "Charles inspired me and helped me throughout my assignments at the Pentagon and the White House. He was a good friend, colleague, and mentor, and I will certainly miss him," Blitzer said. Before joining CNN, Bierbauer had an extensive career spanning more than a decade as an international journalist. He was the ABC News Moscow bureau chief and correspondent beginning in 1978, and he later served as the network's bureau chief in Bonn, Germany. He had previously worked in London, Bonn and Vienna for Westinghouse Broadcasting. Versed in coverage of Eastern Europe during the Cold War, Bierbauer covered all US-Soviet summits, starting in 1975 with President Gerald Ford and the Soviet Union's Leonid Brezhnev through the 1992 meeting between Presidents George H.W. Bush and Boris Yeltsin. He started his career as a radio reporter in his native Allentown, Pennsylvania, and later wrote for the city's local newspaper. Bierbauer graduated in 1966 from Pennsylvania State University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in Russian and bachelor's and master's degrees in journalism. He has been recognized as a distinguished alumnus and alumni fellow by the university. Bierbauer became the first dean of the University of South Carolina's College of Mass Communications and Information Studies in 2002. He stepped down from the role in 2017. Bierbauer is survived by his wife Susanne Schafer, a former journalist at the Associated Press, and his four children. This story has been updated with additional information. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

byAlpha World

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August 31, 2025

Charles Bierbauer, former CNN correspondent, dies at 83

Charles Bierbauer, former CNN correspondent, dies at 83 Former CNN correspondent Charles Bierbauer has died, his family announced on Sunday....

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How America's largest theme park vanished in less than a decade

How America's largest theme park vanished in less than a decade

For more than 100 years,Geauga Lakein Aurora, Ohio, was an amusement park destination. From its earliest days in the late 19th century, when Geauga Lake was just a train stop with picnic tables and boats to rent, the park grew. Its first ride was a steam-powered carousel, added in 1889. Its first roller coaster didn't come until 1925 with the Big Dipper, which entertained thrill-seekers until the park closed down. And in 2001, Geauga Lake absorbed the neighboring Sea World, when the latter closed its Ohio park. That made Geauga Lake the largest theme park in the world by area at the time, covering some 700 acres on both sides of the lake. Less than a decade later, the fun was over. In 2007, the park shut down after rounds of ownership changes and park expansion. Now, what's left of Geauga Lake Park may return to its 19th-century roots. TheCity of Aurora has purchased the former Geauga Lake and Sea World land, with the intent of making it a public park. Here's a look back at the history of Geauga Lake, as reported in previous Beacon Journal articles. Here's a brief history of Geauga Lake: 1887:The northeast side of Geauga Lake is first called Picnic Lake or Giles Pond, a place where visitors camped, went fishing or picnicked. 1889:The park's first ride is added, a steam-powered carousel. 1925:Geauga Lake's first roller coaster is built. The Big Dipper was the largest wooden roller coaster built at the time, at 2,800 feet long and a height of 65 feet. 1939:A dance hall and ballroom are built. 1969:Funtime Inc. purchases the park. 1977:The Double Loop — Ohio's first looping steel coaster — opens. 1978:The Corkscrew steel coaster debuts. 1984:The Wave, the first pool of its kind that creates 6-foot waves, opens. 1988:The park celebrates its 100th year and welcomes the Raging Wolf Bobs wooden roller coaster. 1995:Geauga Lake is purchased by Premier Parks Inc. 1998:Premier Parks purchases Six Flags Theme Parks. 2000:Park changes name to Six Flags Ohio. 2001:Six Flags purchases SeaWorld Cleveland, renamed to Six Flags Worlds of Adventure. 2004:Six Flags sells the park to Cedar Fair, at the time the owner of Cedar Point. The name is changed back to Geauga Lake. 2005:Cedar Fair revamps the old Sea World into a water park called Wildwater Kingdom. 2007:The ride side of Geauga Lake closes. 2016:Wildwater Kingdom closes. SOURCES: Aurora Historical Society and Akron Beacon Journal archives. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal:The lost American theme park that once outgrew Disney World

byAlpha World

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August 31, 2025

How America's largest theme park vanished in less than a decade

How America's largest theme park vanished in less than a decade For more than 100 years,Geauga Lakein Aurora, Ohio, was an amusement par...

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‘SNL’ Bloodbath? Hardly. Lorne Michaels’ Annual Cast Exits Occur as Regularly as ‘Weekend Update’

'SNL' Bloodbath? Hardly. Lorne Michaels' Annual Cast Exits Occur as Regularly as 'Weekend Update'

At "Saturday Night Live," there's drama before you get to the comedy. Every year at about this time, credulous observers of the venerable late-night NBC showcase get flustered by a series of cast changes that roll out about four to six weeks ahead of the next season premiere of the program. Sometimes, "SNL" just adds a few featured players. In other years, a good chunk of cast veterans opt to depart. At some points in time, cost constraints or network edicts have forced executive producer Lorne Michaels to make personnel moves he might not otherwise wish to put into practice. More from Variety Devon Walker Responds to Fan Support After 'SNL' Exit: 'Y'all Acting Like We Died' Michael Longfellow Exits 'SNL' After Three Seasons Emil Wakim Exits 'SNL' in Season 51 Shake Up The increase in hand-wringing around the process, which has become an ingrained element of the "SNL" calendar, is more humorous than some of "SNL's" skits. In recent days, three young members of the "SNL" cast —featured player Emil Wakimand early-tenured Devon Walker and Michael Longfellow — have announced their exits from the show, and it seems pretty clear the departures weren't made by choice. What's more, veteran Heidi Gardner,who seemed to devise a new voice for every sketch character she playedon "SNL" over eight seasons, is leaving, presumably opting to exit after a period of time that seems suitable for most people who join the show. Some media outlets have referred to the exodus as a "bloodbath" or "earthquake." It's really anything but. Simply put, Michaels has raised his expectations for cast members –particularly featured players — since 2000. Michaela Watkins and Jenny Slate were each ousted from the program after a single season despite gaining traction with characters such as Angie Tempura and Tina-Tina Cheneuse. So too in recent years were people like Rob Riggle, Noel Wells, Brooks Whelan, Luke Null, Chloe Troast, Tim Robinson and John Milhiser. Even some who make the jump to regular cast, like Punkie Johnson, leave unexpectedly. While there has been no backlash to Wakim, Walker or Longfellow, there is an argument that can be made that none of the trio has truly "broken out" during their time on air in ways that contemporary cast members such as Chloe Fineman, Bowen Yang or Ego Nwodim have. In an era when much of "SNL" is consumed by its youngest viewers via social media or streaming video hours after the show runs on late Saturdays, Michaels may have little choice but to put his resources behind talent that generates more viral pass-along. And while the impresariorecently gave the news outlet Puck a wide-ranging interview about "SNL" matters great and small, it's interesting he wasn't asked (at least not for print purposes) about whether his show has come underthe same economic scrutiny as the rest of NBC's late-night schedule (and late-night TV in general.) NBC hasscaled Jimmy Fallon's "Tonight Show" down to four original telecasts a week, versus its previous five (no doubt, a second year of Fallon doing a handful bespoke post-"Sunday Night Football" shows is part of the network's calculus) andtaken away the live band that boosted Seth Meyers' "Late Night."Does any of that mean "SNL" is limited in how many cast members it can accommodate each season? Does the show have to cut down on its many extras, such as the live "backstage llama" that often turns up whenever cameras take viewers backstage (to this reporter's eye, the animal hasn't surfaced on camera since Aubrey Plaza hosted the show in 2023)? Only Michaels and NBC late-night chief Katie Hockmeyer know for sure. Meanwhile, people who stay at the show for years are eventually going to leave — and "SNL" will continue until the senior executives at NBCU and parent Comcast determine its costs outweigh the benefits of having it on air. Over the years, the program has weathered the exits of Chevy Chase, Eddie Murphy, Will Ferrell, Tina Fey and Kristen Wiig. Chances are it will absorb a few others. To be certain, more "SNL" changes may lie in the offing. How many more years can Kenan Thompson continue on cast after 22 seasons? Do "Weekend Update" co-anchors Colin Jost and Michael Che, each of whom has tested projects outside the show in recent years, have other ideas in the works? And, certainly, there have beenmoments when cast departures truly rattled the show. In the early part of last decade, "SNL" bid farewell to Jason Sudeikis, Bill Hader and Fred Armisen, all roughly a season after the exits of Andy Samberg and Kristen Wiig. In 2022, Kate McKinnon, Aidy Bryant, Kyle Mooney and Pete Davidsonall left at the same time,followed afew months later by Cecily Strong.Too many cast farewells at once may leave the remaining members of the "SNL" troupe with many of shoes to fill, sometimes without a full pipeline of developing players. For the most part, however, people who are animated by every year's late-August burst of "SNL" personnel news ought to see it for what it is: a well-devised promotional tactic from Michaels and NBC that gets people talking about the show after it has been on hiatus for a few months. Consider the fact that there hasn't been a fresh episode of "SNL" since Scarlett Johansson hosted in mid-May, and yet dozens of news stories and reams of online chatter about the program continue to surface. Bloodbath? Earthquake? Shocker? Sure, you can call the cast announcements any of these things. Something may happen in coming days that truly warrants such colorful words. But the smarter "SNL" aficionado might do well to quote the catchphrase of Emily Litella, the popular "Weekend Update" character played by early cast member Gilda Radner: "Never mind." Best of Variety Samsung, Sonos, Criterion Collection Among Top Brands on Sale for Labor Day - See Running List Here What's Coming to Disney+ in September 2025 New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Sign up forVariety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us onFacebook,Twitter, andInstagram.

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August 31, 2025

‘SNL’ Bloodbath? Hardly. Lorne Michaels’ Annual Cast Exits Occur as Regularly as ‘Weekend Update’

'SNL' Bloodbath? Hardly. Lorne Michaels' Annual Cast Exits Occur as Regularly as 'Weekend Update' At "Saturday Nigh...

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'Harry Potter' director rules out original cast reunion due to J.K. Rowling controversy

'Harry Potter' director rules out original cast reunion due to J.K. Rowling controversy

Will a "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" film starringDaniel Radcliffe,Emma WatsonandRupert Grintever happen? Don't hold your breath, director Chris Columbus says. Columbus, who directed the first two movies in the "Harry Potter" franchise, has previously expressed interest in turning the "Cursed Child" stage play into a film that would bring back the original cast. But ina new interview with The Sunday Timespublished on Saturday, Aug. 30, the filmmaker said this is no longer possible due to authorJ.K. Rowling's anti-trans controversy. "It's never going to happen," he said. "It's gotten so complicated with all the political stuff. Everyone in the cast has their own opinion, which is different from her opinion, which makes it impossible." Columbus added, "I haven't spoken to Miss Rowling in a decade or so, so I have no idea what's going on with her, but I keep very close contact with Daniel Radcliffe and I just spoke to him a few days ago. I still have a great relationship with all the kids in the cast." Rowling, the author of the "Harry Potter" books, has become a divisive figure in recent years due to heranti-trans views. In April, sheagain drew backlashwhen she celebrated a U.K. Supreme Court ruling that the definition of a woman refers to biological sex under equality legislation. Radcliffe, Watson and Grint have all made it known that they disagree with the author's views on the transgender community. J.K. Rowlingsays 'Harry Potter' stars who've criticized her anti-trans views 'can save their apologies' "Transgender women are women," Radcliffesaid in 2020. "Any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people and goes against all advice given by professional health care associations who have far more expertise on this subject matter than either (Rowling) or I." "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child," which opened on the West End in 2016, takes place 19 years after "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" and features the return of an older Harry, Hermione and Ron. In a 2021 interviewwith The Hollywood Reporter, Columbus revealed he wanted to bring the play to the big screen with the original film trio. J.K. Rowlingcelebrated UK Supreme Court ruling with a cigar. Backlash was swift. "A version of 'Cursed Child' with Dan, Rupert and Emma at the right age, it's cinematic bliss," he said at the time. "If you're a film nerd or cinephile, it's kind of like what J.J. (Abrams) did with 'Star Wars.' ... I think that would be the same situation for 'Harry Potter' fans. To able to actually see these adult actors now back in these roles? Oh, yeah. It would be amazingly fun to make that film — or two films." Since then, HBO announced a new"Harry Potter" televisionseries, which will adapt the original books starring young actors in the lead roles of Harry, Ron and Hermione. Rowling is a producer on the show,and she says she"worked closely" with the writers. In arecent appearance on the "Rest Is Entertainment"podcast, Columbus said that while he's "excited" to see the HBO show, he was surprised when he saw a photo of Nick Frost as Hagrid, adding that the costume looked quite similar to the way Hagrid appeared in his "Potter" films. "He's wearing the exact same costume that we designed for Hagrid," Columbus said. "Part of me was like, 'What's the point?' I thought everything was going to be different, but it's more of the same." Though a "Cursed Child" movie may not be in the cards,Tom Felton announced in Junethat he will reprise his film role of Draco Malfoy in the play beginning in November. Feltontold Varietyhe is "not really that attuned to" the controversy surrounding Rowling, adding, "I have not seen anything bring the world together more than 'Potter,' and she's responsible for that, so I'm incredibly grateful." Contributing: Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY; Reuters This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:'Harry Potter' director rules out 'Cursed Child' film over J.K. Rowling

byAlpha World

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August 31, 2025

'Harry Potter' director rules out original cast reunion due to J.K. Rowling controversy

'Harry Potter' director rules out original cast reunion due to J.K. Rowling controversy Will a "Harry Potter and the Cursed Chi...

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Judge blocks removal of Guatemalan children in US custody, some of whom were already on planes

Judge blocks removal of Guatemalan children in US custody, some of whom were already on planes

A federal judge on Sunday afternoon temporarily blocked the removals of unaccompanied Guatemalan minors in US custody as the government was in the process of repatriating some of them in the early morning hours. A notice sent to attorneys about the removals prompted an early Sunday morning scramble among lawyers who say kids were woken up in the middle of the night and would be at risk if returned to their home country. CNN firstreportedthat the Trump administration was moving to repatriate hundreds of Guatemalan children who arrived in the US unaccompanied, in coordination with the Guatemalan government. During a Sunday hearing, Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan, a Biden appointee, said she received a call around 2:36 a.m. notifying her that the children were being processed for repatriation to Guatemala. "I have the government attempting to remove unaccompanied minors from the country in the wee hours of the morning on a holiday weekend, which is surprising, but here we are," she said. Sooknanan asked the Department of Justice to provide evidence supporting its claim that the children had been requested to return by their parents or legal guardians. DOJ attorney Drew Ensign told the court, "That's what I've been told," while attorneys challenging the removals argued that was false. The judge gave the government until Friday to file a formal response to that question. The plaintiffs agreed to file an expedited motion for a preliminary injunction by Tuesday, with DOJ's reply due Friday. Sooknanan reiterated her order that the US government not remove any of the individual plaintiffs or other unaccompanied Guatemalan minors in US custody, who she ruled were part of the class protected under the order, for two weeks. During the hearing, Sooknanan asked the Department of Justice's lawyer to clarify the children's whereabouts, some of whom had already been placed on planes. They are expected to be returned to US custody, according to DOJ. At least one plane in Texas carrying Guatemalan children was turned around, according to Neha Desai, managing director of Children's Human Rights & Dignity at the National Center for Youth Law. Legal service providers who work with children were notified by the Office of Refugee Resettlement, which is charged with the care of migrant kids, that Guatemala had "requested the return of certain unaccompanied alien children in federal custody for the purposes of reunifying the UAC with suitable family members," according to a notice obtained by CNN. The children, ranging in age, are believed to not have a parent in the US, though they may have a relative, and have a parent or legal guardian in Guatemala. The criteria also includes children who do not have a pending asylum case and won't be trafficked upon their return, according to the notice. But attorneys who represent some of the children say that those who have been identified are at risk if returned to Guatemala and are in ongoing immigration proceedings. In a lawsuit filed early Sunday to block the effort, attorneys argued that the Trump administration is violating US law, which affords unaccompanied migrants special protections and ensures kids aren't removed without due process or the opportunity to seek relief from deportation. CNN reached out to the White House, as well as the departments of Health and Human Services and Homeland Security for comment. The plaintiffs in the case, which was filed in the US District Court for the District of Columbia, are 10 unaccompanied minors from Guatemala, ranging from ages 10 to 17, who have been identified for removal, and the majority of whom are in ongoing immigration proceedings. One of those children, a 10-year-old indigenous child, "suffered abuse and neglect from other caregivers" in Guatemala. Her mother is deceased. The immigration attorney who represents multiple Guatemalan kids told CNN that the children were "terrified and confused." "The reaction when you explain what's happening is disbelief. They're very scared. They all say they're afraid to return to Guatemala for different reasons," the attorney said. "They were literally taken out of their beds in the middle of the night, on a holiday weekend." Late Saturday, the Office of Refugee Resettlement also notified shelter providers who care for unaccompanied migrant children that kids had been identified "for reunification with their parents and or legal guardians" in country of origin and must be prepared to be discharged within two hours, or four hours if the child is in a foster care program, upon receiving notification, according to a notice obtained by CNN. The children, the notice states, must be travel ready, including proper documentation, medication, personal belongings, and two prepared sack lunches. This story and headline have been updated with additional details. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

byAlpha World

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August 31, 2025

Judge blocks removal of Guatemalan children in US custody, some of whom were already on planes

Judge blocks removal of Guatemalan children in US custody, some of whom were already on planes A federal judge on Sunday afternoon temporari...

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Tropical Storm Kiko forms in eastern Pacific, expected to become a hurricane

Tropical Storm Kiko forms in eastern Pacific, expected to become a hurricane

A new tropical storm has formed in the eastern Pacific Ocean, more than 1,000 miles off the coast of Mexico. There was no immediate threat to land. Tropical Storm Kiko developed early Sunday and is expected to become a hurricane later this week, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami. The hurricane center did not issue any coastal watches or warnings. "Strengthening is expected during the next couple of days, and the system is forecast to become a hurricane by Tuesday," the hurricane center said. The storm's center was located about 1,045 miles west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. Its maximum sustained winds were clocked at 40 mph. It is moving west at a speed of 9 mph. Tropical storms have wind speeds of between 39 mph and 73 mph. It becomes a hurricane when the wind speed reaches 74 mph. A storm is considered a major hurricane if the wind speed goes over 110 mph, according to the NHC. Kiko is the 11th named storm in theEastern North Pacificthis year. So far this year, Tropical Storm Chantal is the only one to have made landfall in the U.S., bringingdeadly floodingto North Carolina in early July. In June, Barry made landfall as a tropical depression on Mexico's eastern coast. "Portrait of a person who's not there": Documenting the bedrooms of school shooting victims The Long Island home renovation that uncovered a hidden story Passage: In memoriam

byAlpha World

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August 31, 2025

Tropical Storm Kiko forms in eastern Pacific, expected to become a hurricane

Tropical Storm Kiko forms in eastern Pacific, expected to become a hurricane A new tropical storm has formed in the eastern Pacific Ocean, m...

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Frank Grillo Gets Candid About the Difference Between Working with Marvel vs. DC — and Which He Prefers More (Exclusive)

Frank Grillo Gets Candid About the Difference Between Working with Marvel vs. DC — and Which He Prefers More (Exclusive)

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Frank Grillo, who stars as Brock Rumlow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Rick Flag Sr. in the DC Universe, told PEOPLE which franchise matched his preferred work style Grillo, 60, also discussed the differences between the two franchise, saying with DC, "the scripts are in front of you," while with Marvel things are done a little more on the "fly" The actor also discussed going toe-to-toe with John Cena's Peacemaker and Chris Evans' Captain America Frank Grillois explaining how collaborating with DC feels worlds apart from his time working with Marvel. The 60-year-old actor, who stars as Rick Flag Sr. in the DC Universe (DCU) and Brock Rumlow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) recently told PEOPLE in an exclusive conversation that there are several key differences between the two studios both on-screen and behind the scenes. "It's different. It's not organized in the same way. [DC] is really like all the scripts are in front of you and you kind of have a real secure handle on what's happening," Grillo says at thePeacemakerSeason 2 premiere. "And there's nothing wrong with it, but [Marvel] was a little fly by the seat of your pants," he adds, referring to Marvel, at the Aug. 13 event. Zade Rosenthal/Disney/Marvel He noted that Marvel was "done very well," but it can be daunting for some actors who don't know what is in store for their characters in the script. "For me, it's a little scary to do it that way," Grillo admits. However, there are some similarities between the two characters he plays as both Brock Rumlow and Rick Flag Sr. are soldiers who are fighting for what they believe in. DC 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. In the MCU'sCaptain America: The Winter Soldierfrom 2014,Grillo has an intense fight scene withChris Evans' Captain America. He also goes toe-to-toe withJohn Cena's Peacemaker in the second season of the DCU show. When it comes to which was the better fight, Grillo knows his answer. "I had no problem beating the crap out of either one of them," he said, jokingly, despite his character losing the fight to Captain America. "I mean … I don't know. They were both easy pickings." Grillo is not the only one who stars in movies for both universes, as Michael Rooker and Sean Gunn, who starred inGuardians of the Galaxyas Yondu and Kraglin, also are in the DCU, following in the footsteps of the film's directorJames Gunn. James, 59, also recently weighed in on Marvel vs. DC, saying that the key distinction between the two lies in how their universes are built. In a recent chat withInterview Magazine, the filmmaker explained that while Marvel often ties its heroes together under one overarching narrative, his approach at DC is about exploring different heroes and worlds told through standalone stories. Charley Gallay/Getty "People say, 'Oh, the DCU is doing what MCU is.' But I think it really is a lot more to me what theGame of Thronesworld is like or whatStar Warsis like, because we're building a universe and then picking out little pieces of it and telling individual stories from that universe," James said. "There is not a New York City in our DCU. There is not a Los Angeles in our DCU," he continued, describing the differences. "There is Metropolis, Evergreen and Coast City. It's a different map. It's a world in which some form of superheroes, which we call Metahumans, have existed for at least 300 years and they've been a part of our life." Peacemaker's season 2 is streaming on HBO Max. Read the original article onPeople

byAlpha World

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August 31, 2025

Frank Grillo Gets Candid About the Difference Between Working with Marvel vs. DC — and Which He Prefers More (Exclusive)

Frank Grillo Gets Candid About the Difference Between Working with Marvel vs. DC — and Which He Prefers More (Exclusive) Dimitrios Kambouris...

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Kim Novak Is 'Concerned' Upcoming Biopic, Starring Sydney Sweeney, Will Focus Only on 'Sexual' Aspect of Sammy Davis Jr. Romance

Kim Novak Is 'Concerned' Upcoming Biopic, Starring Sydney Sweeney, Will Focus Only on 'Sexual' Aspect of Sammy Davis Jr. Romance

Taylor Hill/FilmMagic; Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty; Christian Rose/Roger Viollet via Getty Kim Novak is "concerned" that an upcoming biopic about her romance with Sammy Davis Jr. will only focus on the "sexual" aspect of their relationship Scandalous!, currently in pre-production, is set to star Sydney Sweeney and David Jonsson "I don't think the relationship was scandalous," Novak said Kim Novakhas some qualms about an upcoming biopic based on her life. Scandalous!,starringSydney SweeneyandDavid Jonsson, is currently in preproduction and will follow the real-life story of the 1950s romance between the actress, 92, andSammy Davis Jr. "I don't think the relationship was scandalous," Novak toldThe Guardianfor a new interview published on Saturday, Aug. 30. "He's somebody I really cared about," she continued of the late musician, who died at age 64 in 1990. "We had so much in common, including that need to be accepted for who we are and what we do, rather than how we look. But I'm concerned they're going to make it all sexual reasons." 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. Don Smith/Radio Times via Getty Novak's longtime manager, Sue Cameron, previously stressed the importance of getting their story right whenspeaking to PEOPLE exclusivelyin November 2024. "Kim and I have been aware of at least four unauthorized and unapproved projects in development about the Kim Novak and Sammy Davis affair," she said at the time. "She never wanted to get married back then — to anyone. It was a romance based on love, respect, the things they shared in common," Cameron added. She continued, "Kim and Sammy met at a party and recognized they were both rebels and outsiders. They both had strong ties to their families and spent time with close relatives in both Hollywood and Chicago. In truth, she hoped their relationship could help break down people's racial bias." The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! Novak and Davis' relationship ended due to external pressure — including from the head of Columbia Pictures, Harry Cohn, who threatened Davis with a mob hit when news of the romance broke in 1957. Taylor Hill/FilmMagic Scandalous!,from Miramax, will be directed byColman Domingo, marking the actor's directorial debut. "Hopefully we'll make a beautiful, sweet film that's really about the possibility of love, but under many eyes," he toldDeadlineof the project in November 2024. "Trying to have privacy, trying to have love, trying to have a life. And I think it's something that Sydney and I both know very well. We're trying to advocate for your humanity again in your life," Domingo added, referring to Sweeney, 27. Scandalous!does not yet have a release date. Read the original article onPeople

byAlpha World

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August 31, 2025

Kim Novak Is 'Concerned' Upcoming Biopic, Starring Sydney Sweeney, Will Focus Only on 'Sexual' Aspect of Sammy Davis Jr. Romance

Kim Novak Is 'Concerned' Upcoming Biopic, Starring Sydney Sweeney, Will Focus Only on 'Sexual' Aspect of Sammy Davis Jr. Rom...

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US expands visa restrictions for Palestinians, NY Times reports

US expands visa restrictions for Palestinians, NY Times reports

(Reuters) -The United States has suspended visa approvals for nearly everyone who holds a Palestinian passport, The New York Times reported on Sunday. The restrictions go beyond those President Donald Trump's administration had previously announced on visitors from Gaza. They would prevent Palestinians from traveling to the United States for medical treatment, attending college and business travel, the newspaper reported, citing unidentified officials. The State Department said two weeks ago that it was halting all visitor visas for individuals from Gaza while it conducts "a full and thorough" review, a move that has been condemned by pro-Palestine groups. (Reporting by Brad HeathEditing by Bill Berkrot)

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August 31, 2025

US expands visa restrictions for Palestinians, NY Times reports

US expands visa restrictions for Palestinians, NY Times reports (Reuters) -The United States has suspended visa approvals for nearly everyon...

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Aid ship carrying Greta Thunberg, other activists, sets sail to Gaza

Aid ship carrying Greta Thunberg, other activists, sets sail to Gaza

A flotilla carrying activist Greta Thunberg and others departed from Barcelona for the Gaza Strip on Sunday with humanitarian aid on board. The Global Sumud Flotilla will try to break the Israeli blockade of the Palestinian territory and bring humanitarian aid, food, water and medicine to Gaza asIsrael steps up its offensive in Gaza City. "The story here is about Palestine," Thunberg said at a press conference in Barcelona. "The story here is how people are being deliberately deprived of the very basic means to survive." Food experts warned earlier this month that Gaza City was in famine and that half a million people across the strip were facing catastrophic levels of hunger. The nearly 23-month war has killed more than 63,000 people, with at least 332 Palestinians dying of malnutrition, including 124 children, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry. The maritime convoy, comprising approximately 20 boats and delegations from 44 countries, will be joined by additional ships from ports in Italy, Greece, and Tunisia in the coming days as it navigates its route from the western Mediterranean to the Gaza Strip, organizers said. Thunberg and "Game of Thrones" actor Liam Cunningham are some of the most recognizable figures on the expedition, as well as activists, politicians like former mayor of Barcelona, Ada Colau, and journalists. "It has been very clear that Israel has been continuously violating international law by either attacking, unlawfully intercepting the boats in international waters, and continuously preventing the humanitarian aid from coming in", said Thunberg in an interview with The Associated Press on Saturday. It is not the first time Thunberg and Cunninham will attempt to reachGaza waters this year. She wasdeported in Junewhen the ship she was traveling on with 11 other people, the Madleen, was stopped by the Israeli military. Cunningham, who will join the flotilla, played a video showing a girl singing while planning her own funeral. The girl, Fatima, died four days ago, he said. "What sort of world have we slid into where children are making their own funeral arrangements?" Cunningham told reporters. In late July, theIsraeli military stopped another aid ship, detained 21 international activists and reporters, and seized its cargo, including baby formula, food and medicine, according to Freedom Flotilla Coalition. An Israeli official said Saturday that the country will soon halt or slow humanitarian aid into parts of northernGaza, as it expands its military offensive against Hamas, a day after the city was declared a combat zone. The war began on Oct. 7, 2023, when an attack by Hamas terrorists inside Israel claimed the lives of 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and took 251 people hostage. Editor's Note: This article has been corrected. A representative for Susan Sarandon tells CBS News that while the actress is supportive of the cause, she was not on the flotilla, as was previously reported by the Associated Press. "Portrait of a person who's not there": Documenting the bedrooms of school shooting victims The Long Island home renovation that uncovered a hidden story Passage: In memoriam

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August 31, 2025

Aid ship carrying Greta Thunberg, other activists, sets sail to Gaza

Aid ship carrying Greta Thunberg, other activists, sets sail to Gaza A flotilla carrying activist Greta Thunberg and others departed from Ba...

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Mark Hamill and Wife of 47 Years Marilou Reveal Their Two Big Marriage Rules: 'Odds Are Against You' (Exclusive)

Mark Hamill and Wife of 47 Years Marilou Reveal Their Two Big Marriage Rules: 'Odds Are Against You' (Exclusive)

Gabe Ginsberg/WireImage Mark and Marilou Hamill shared some of their best marriage advice with PEOPLE after nearly 50 years of marriage The couple, who share three children, tied the knot in 1978 at their home in Malibu, Calif. The two spoke with PEOPLE about their beloved community of Big Rock during a recent conversation about the new documentaryBig Rock Burning, which chronicles the impact of this year's L.A. wildfires on the Malibu neighborhood Nearly 50 years after tying the knot,MarkandMarilou Hamillknow a thing or several about what makes a marriage work. After meeting in the mid '70s at a dental office where Marilou worked as a dental hygienist, the couple wed in December 1978 at their home in Malibu, Calif. Now, almost five decades andthree kids later, Marilou tells PEOPLE that from her experience, when it comes to marriage, "Don't sweat the little stuff." "And also, go in knowing you're not going to change anyone. So you have to accept their quirks and their behavior," Marilou adds before Mark humorously interrupts: "What quirks?" Ethan Miller/FilmMagic Mark agrees, saying it's both about "acceptance" as well as "communication." "I just think that when you find the right one, the odds are against you," theStar Warsactor adds. "But if you do get lucky, you just have to hang on and be grateful that you were able to find that one." The Hamills shared their marriage advice during a recent conversation with PEOPLE about the new documentaryBig Rock Burning, which the couple executive produced. The two reflected on their community of 47 years — the Big Rock neighborhood in Malibu — and the home they had to leave amid the L.A. wildfires earlier this year. "We got married there, We raised our kids there. It's a very, very special property," Marilou says. The film, which had an exclusive preview screening hosted by the Malibu Film Society and the City of Malibu on Aug. 29 at Malibu City Hall, tells the stories of those in Big Rock who were "left to face the fires alone," per the opening credits of the film, and includes devastating footage of the rubble left where homes once stood. The documentary's focus is largely how Big Rock's residents feel their local government was negligent in their preparation for the natural disaster. And, once the fires made it to their neighborhood, they say there was no emergency response as the area was considered too dangerous. While their home is still standing, the Hamills have yet to return as "it's toxic with chemicals," Mark explains. "I'm so thankful and grateful that our house survived," Marilou says. "But I just didn't realize the ramifications of it." Big Rock Burning,which has a producing team that includes Julie Parker Benello, James Costa and executive producerRicki Lake, will have an Oscar-qualifying theatrical run from Sept. 12-18 at the Laemmle in Santa Monica. Read the original article onPeople

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August 31, 2025

Mark Hamill and Wife of 47 Years Marilou Reveal Their Two Big Marriage Rules: 'Odds Are Against You' (Exclusive)

Mark Hamill and Wife of 47 Years Marilou Reveal Their Two Big Marriage Rules: 'Odds Are Against You' (Exclusive) Gabe Ginsberg/WireI...

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Snoop Dogg addresses backlash after slamming 'Lightyear' same-sex couple

Snoop Dogg addresses backlash after slamming 'Lightyear' same-sex couple

Snoop Doggis addressing the backlashover his controversial commentsabout LGBTQ+ characters in kids' films. The rapper, 53, recently came under fire over remarks he made onthe "It's Giving" podcast, where he said he was unhappy after taking his grandson to see the Pixar movie "Lightyear" because it featured a same-sex couple having a baby together. "These are kids," he said on the Aug. 20 episode. "We have to show that at this age? They're going to ask questions! I don't have the answer." After sparking outcry and accusations of homophobia, Snoop Dogg responded to critics by commenting on aHollywood Unlocked Instagram postabout the story. He wrote that he was "just caught off guard and had no answer for my" grandson, also claiming, "All my gay friends (know) what's up they been calling me with love." He continued, "My bad for not knowing the answers for a 6 yr old 😳 teach me how to learn I'm not perfect." In the original podcast, Snoop Dogg said his grandson asked him how a woman can have a baby with another woman while they were watching "Lightyear," and he was unsure how to answer. The "Toy Story" spinoff, released in 2022, featured an early scene where Buzz Lightyear's commanding officer Alisha is revealed to have welcomed a child with her wife. The movie ignited conservative backlash at the time of its release due to a brief kiss between Alisha and her partner. Snoop Doggfaces backlash for take on LGBTQ+ representation in kids' films On the podcast, Snoop Dogg slammed the film for "throwing me in the middle of" a situation where he didn't "have an answer" for his grandson, and he said he is "scared to go to the movies now" because of the experience. The comments drew anger and mockery on social media, with oneX post slammingSnoop Dogg as the "biggest sellout in hip-hop" in reaction to the statements. "Wait, no, this is actual homophobia,"another X user said, drawing over 350,000 likes. Earlier this year, Snoop Doggalso faced social media ireafter he performed at an event celebrating the inauguration ofPresident Donald Trump. Lauren Gunderson, a writer who worked on early versions of "Lightyear,"took to Threadsto defend the storyline after Snoop Dogg's comments. Gunderson said that when a "key character needed a partner" in the film, it "was so natural to write 'she' instead of 'he.'" Snoop Doggaddresses 'all the hate' after Trump inauguration performance backlash "As small as that detail is in the film, I knew the representational effect it could have," she said. "Small line, big deal. I was elated that they kept it. I'm proud of it. To infinity. Love is love." In response to a Threads user who criticized Snoop Dogg,Gunderson also replied simply,"He sucks." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Snoop Dogg addresses backlash to 'Lightyear' LGBTQ comments

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August 31, 2025

Snoop Dogg addresses backlash after slamming 'Lightyear' same-sex couple

Snoop Dogg addresses backlash after slamming 'Lightyear' same-sex couple Snoop Doggis addressing the backlashover his controversial ...

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Bullet fragment found in neck of boy who went viral for saying his friend shielded him from school shooting

Bullet fragment found in neck of boy who went viral for saying his friend shielded him from school shooting

Doctors discovered a bullet fragment in the neck of a 10-year-old boy who went viral for recounting how his friend jumped on top of him to shield him during a mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis that killed two children and injured others. Weston Halsne, a fifth-grade student at Annunciation Catholic School, was attending Mass on Wednesday when the shooting occurred. He recounted running under a pew and covering his head while shots came through the stained-glass windows, and said his friend Victor was shot while shielding him. "I think I got, like, gunpowder on my neck," he said after the shooting. But doctors later discovered it was not just gunpowder that hit the 10-year-old's neck, but a bullet fragment as well. Weston's father, Grant Halsne, told NBC News that the fragment came close to — but didn't hit — the 10-year-old's carotid artery, which a doctor described the as a "miracle." "If it [the bullet fragment] went any further, he would've died," Grant Halsne said. The Halsne family is waiting to confirm when the surgery to remove the fragment will be scheduled, but hope it will be sometime early next week. The fragment is in a very sensitive area, but Weston is expected to make a full recovery, his father said. Grant Halsne said the shooting has left his son scared and not wanting to be alone. "He's scared of loud noises," the father said. "The kid to his left was killed." On Wednesday just before 8:30 a.m., 23-year-old Robin Westman fired a rifle through the side windows of Annunciation Catholic School's church, aiming at children sitting in the pews. Weston remembered thinking, "What is that?" when he heard the first gunshot. When he heard it again, he ran under the pew. The student had practiced what to do during an active shooter situation, but never at the church, he said. "I was like two seats away from the stained glass windows," Weston said. "So, they were like, the shots were like right next to me." Westman was found dead at the rear of the church with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to search warrants. She was found dressed in black "tactical" gear and officials found approximately 120 shell casings from three different guns that she used, according to Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara. The investigation into the shooting is ongoing.

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August 31, 2025

Bullet fragment found in neck of boy who went viral for saying his friend shielded him from school shooting

Bullet fragment found in neck of boy who went viral for saying his friend shielded him from school shooting Doctors discovered a bullet frag...

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3 Dead, Over 100 Injured After Several Train Cars Flip and Derail — and a Cause of the Crash Remains Unknown

3 Dead, Over 100 Injured After Several Train Cars Flip and Derail — and a Cause of the Crash Remains Unknown

Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population Three people are dead and 103 are injured after a train accident on Saturday, Aug. 30 Some of the injured passengers are receiving "intensive care," according to health officials The cause of the accident, which saw two train cars overturn and seven derail, is under investigation Three people are dead and over a hundred more are injured following a train accident, in which at least two cars were completely overturned. The train was traveling from Marsa Matruh, a port city in northwestern Egypt, to Cairo on Saturday, Aug. 30, when the accident occurred, according to a statement the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population (MOHP) shared onFacebook. Two train cars were overturned, while seven more were derailed. The accident resulted in the deaths of three people, the MOHP said in its initial post, which was originally penned in Arabic. The number of travelers injured in the accident, meanwhile, kept climbing. Thirty-seven ambulances were sent to the scene, according to the MOHP. Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population Hours after the accident, the government ministry reported in anotherFacebookupdate that the number of injured passengers had increased from 54 to 94. That number later climbed to 103, with three individuals receiving what MOHP spokesperson Dr. Hossam Abdel-Ghafar described inanother statementas "intensive care." According to Abdel-Ghafar, 87 of the injured travelers have already left the hospital after receiving medical care, and 16 more remain stable but under observation. Injuries varied from fractures to cuts and bruises, the spokesperson said. Several officials, including Health Minister Dr Khaled Abdul Ghaffar, visited the Hyena and Ras Al-Hakma hospitals, where the accident victims were transported, following the crash, officials said. The MOHP head also offered his condolences and prayers to the families of the victims. "Medical teams continue to assess the health status of patients, ensuring that all blood needs and derivatives are provided to provide the necessary medical care," the MOHP said in a statement translated from Arabic. Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population 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. In the aftermath of the Aug. 30 accident, dozens of people surrounded the scene, and two cranes were positioned to lift one of the overturned train cars, as seen in photos shared by the MOHP and in footage obtained byExtra News. The cause of the crash is not yet known. The transport ministry and the Egyptian National Railways Authority are currently investigating, according to theBBC. Accidents such as this are not uncommon on Egypt's railway network, the British outlet reported, due in part to "poor maintenance and a lack of investment." Read the original article onPeople

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August 31, 2025

3 Dead, Over 100 Injured After Several Train Cars Flip and Derail — and a Cause of the Crash Remains Unknown

3 Dead, Over 100 Injured After Several Train Cars Flip and Derail — and a Cause of the Crash Remains Unknown Egyptian Ministry of Health and...

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Devon Walker Clears Up Confusion Over ‘Saturday Night Live’ Exit: ‘Time to Go Our Separate Ways’

Devon Walker Clears Up Confusion Over 'Saturday Night Live' Exit: 'Time to Go Our Separate Ways'

Devon Walkerset the record straight about his exit fromSaturday Night Liveahead of season 51. "To be frank, I guess the best way I put it is like me and the show kind of looked at each other and we decided together that it was time to go our separate ways," Walker, 34, toldRolling Stonein an interview published on Saturday, August 30. "I think I felt ready to leave the show, and I think the show felt ready to leave me. I was just ready to do something else. We both felt like it was time. This was such a big time commitment, and life commitment. There's been a lot of life stuff that I feel like I've had to miss out on. And I felt ready to do a different version of my life. I think that me and the show are both ready to turn the page." Walker surprisedSNLfans when he announced on Monday, August 25, that he wasleaving the NBC sketch showafter three seasons. His announcement was the first in a string of exits that would also seeMichael Longfellow,Emil WakimandHeidi GardneralldepartingSaturday Night Live. In his announcement, Walker seemed to suggest he'd had a complicated experience working onSaturday Night Live, admitting that "sometimes it was really cool [and] sometimes it was toxic as hell." 'Saturday Night Live' Season 51: Premiere Date, Cast Exits and Everything You Need to Know "We made the most of what it was, even amidst all the dysfunction," he wrote. "We made a f***ed up lil family." Speaking toRolling Stone, Walker noticeably downplayed any insinuation that there was bad blood between himself andSNL. "I got to work at the show in my first two seasons with two of my best friends in the world — [writers]Gary RichardsonandAlex English," he pointed. "To me, that really felt like family. And you spend so much time together, we're seeing each other way more than we're seeing our families. Being able to be in that environment, in the foxhole with two people who are so close to me — I feel really grateful for that." The actor went on, "And even people who I didn't know before, likeJames Austin Johnson. I never met him a day in my life before I got started atSNL, and that man really looked out for me in ways that he really didn't have to. There are people there who, even if you didn't know each other before, you forge a bond with." Walker mentioned that he loved the "fraternity" environment ofSNLthat allowed him to interact with legendary cast members at February's 50th anniversary special. "I might see, like,Adam Sandler, you know, and he's talking about how there's a shorthand," the comic said. "Even though he went through the show 30 years before I ever got there, we know what it is. There's just an understanding that anybody who's ever worked there will always share." As for the future, Walker insisted that he was "genuinely very excited" about whatever comes next in his career. 9 Moments From Saturday Night Live's Milestone 50th Season "I think when somebody leavesSNL, people's impulse is to be like, 'Oh, I'm really sorry," he acknowledged. "But to me, getting onSNLwas such a blessing. I was never even training to do that thing. That's just like a God thing, a fortunate happenstance that I ended up getting to be on that show. I'm proud of a lot of the work that I did on there, but wait till people get to see the stuff that I really want to do." Fans — and even formerSNLcast members — have been buzzing about what other changes could take place behind the scenes before season 51 kicks off. FormerSNLstarPunkie Johnson— who exited the show after four years in 2024 — perfectlycaptured the whiplash effectmany fans have been feeling. Reacting to an Instagram post announcing Longfellow's departure, Johnson, 40, wrote: "WTF is happening… This is likeThe Departed… My sexy handsome work husband… I love you so much…I'll call you… Welcome back outside baby…. I'll see you out here soon." Saturday Night Livereturns this fall on NBC.

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August 31, 2025

Devon Walker Clears Up Confusion Over ‘Saturday Night Live’ Exit: ‘Time to Go Our Separate Ways’

Devon Walker Clears Up Confusion Over 'Saturday Night Live' Exit: 'Time to Go Our Separate Ways' Devon Walkerset the record ...

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Olivia Newton-John pushed back against provocative song with 'spicy' lyrics: book

Olivia Newton-John pushed back against provocative song with 'spicy' lyrics: book

Olivia Newton-John was worried about letting people hear her body talk. The singer, who won countless hearts as Sandy in "Grease" and charmed many more as music's wholesome girl next door, was hesitant to be bad. But with a little encouragement from one of her closest confidantes, she channeled the animal in her with the song "Physical." John Mason, who represented the late singer for 50 years, has written a new memoir,"Crazy Lucky."It explores what it takes to defend the famous during career-defining moments. He still represents Newton-John's estate and her daughter, Chloe Lattanzi. Mason previously worked with Roy Orbison, Reba McEntire, Shakira and Quincy Jones, among others. Beach Boys Founder Brian Wilson Regretted Being Blocked From Band's Hit Song: Book Mason wrote in his book that when Newton-John first read the lyrics, she exclaimed, "John, I simply cannot do it. I can't sing the lyrics… Please!" But for Mason, the song was "edgy" – and exactly what the star needed to reinvent herself. Read On The Fox News App "Olivia Newton-John always had what she called a 'goody-two-shoes' persona," Mason told Fox News Digital. "She always had a young, girlish energy.When she did 'Grease,'the surprise to me was that she came out and did 'You're the One That I Want' in that black tight outfit. Randal Kleiser, the director, certainly helped Olivia to get out of the image of Sandy… And then she became the 'Bad Sandy.' But in her mind… She was still the same girl who had recorded 'I Honestly Love You.'" According to Mason's book, "Physical" was first presented to Tina Turner. She turned it down because the lyrics were "a bit too sexy." It was Turner who suggested giving the song to Newton-John because "who would expect Olivia Newton-John to sing those words?" But Newton-John wasn't having it. WATCH: OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN FEARED LOSING 'GOODY-TWO-SHOES' IMAGE WITH 'PHYSICAL' "John, the lyrics have me singing 'There's nothin' left to talk about unless it's horizontally!'" Mason recalled the star telling him. "'I'm worried the fans won't embrace it." "No, I can't do that. That is just contrary to my image," she told him. But Mason heard a different tune. "She asked me what I thought, and I said, 'It's worth it,'" Mason told Fox News Digital. "'Your manager thinks that it will enhance your image. Go for it.' And she did." Newton-John was said to be so worried about recording "Physical" that her manager, Roger Davies, assured her that if anything happened, "You can blame me." Newton-John slipped into her leotards and leg warmers for the bouncy single. It was a smash hit. Click Here To Sign Up For The Entertainment Newsletter "'Physical' became the biggest number one, not only that Olivia ever had, but that anybody ever had at that time," said Mason. "Physical" debuted on Sept. 28, 1981, two months after MTV was launched. It was the most iconic solo hit of Newton-John's decades-long career and one of the most defining smashes of the 1980s,Billboard.comreported. It also allowed Newton-John to embrace a sexier image on her terms. "The [music] video is hilarious to this day," said Mason. "I want to give credit to Roger Davies for getting Olivia to open up and let that happen. But as always, with Olivia as an actress or a singer, she pulled off what she wanted to do in a spectacular way." Mason wrote in his book that radio stations banned the song for being too racy. It went on to sell even more copies. "I would say the concept for the video, as opposed to the record, was really, really exciting for her," he said. "She had the best personality. She was such a funny person, and when you watch the 'Physical' video today, you can see that she just had fun. When the record came out, the lyrics were a little what she would call 'spicy.' But they made it into something fun. Like What You're Reading? Click Here For More Entertainment News "'Physical' was about running on the treadmill and getting in shape, as much as it was about the innuendo of the song. [But] I think the words, 'unless it's horizontally,' are definitely an implication of something other than getting on the treadmill." "She had fun with it," Mason continued. "It was a blast. And [every] time I saw Olivia perform 'Physical' after the record was released, she always treated it like fun. To her, it was just a great uplifting experience, and one that spoke to people in a way about being fit, as well as being sexy." Newton-John's aerobics-friendly promotional clipwon a Grammy for best video. Newton-John later admitted that she blushed as she sang, "There's nothing left to talk about/Unless it's horizontally" before calling out, "Let's get animal! Animal!" "I recorded it and then suddenly thought, 'Goodness, maybe I've gone too far!'" she toldEntertainment Weeklyin 2017. "I called Roger and said, 'We've got to pull this song!' He said, 'It's too late. It's already gone to the radio, and it's running up the charts.' I was horrified!" Back in 2021, Newton-John spoke to Fox News Digital about how "Physical" reinvented her image. At the time, she said the songwas originally intended for Rod Stewartbefore it was offered to Turner. "I heard the song, and I thought, 'Wow, that's a great song,'" she recalled at the time. "I didn't really realize what it was about. I didn't think until I'd finished it and then freaked out. [I thought then] 'I think I've gone too far, I think I've gone too far.' But it worked for me, so I'm very happy that I took the chance." Newton-John admittedthe lyrics were a bit "raunchy"but "I don't think I was really aware of how raunchy it was when I was recording it until afterward, and that's when I freaked out." "I felt a little embarrassed to be banned,"the "Grease" staradmitted. "But looking back now, I go, 'That was great.' It got attention. And also compared to what I'm listening to on the radio now, it's more like a lullaby." Newton-John died in 2022following a long journey with breast cancer. She was 73. Original article source:Olivia Newton-John pushed back against provocative song with 'spicy' lyrics: book

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August 31, 2025

Olivia Newton-John pushed back against provocative song with 'spicy' lyrics: book

Olivia Newton-John pushed back against provocative song with 'spicy' lyrics: book Olivia Newton-John was worried about letting peopl...

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Powerball jackpot jumps to $1.1 billion after no winning tickets Saturday

Powerball jackpot jumps to $1.1 billion after no winning tickets Saturday

ThePowerballjackpot has risen to an estimated $1.1 billion, the fifth-largest ever in the game's history, after there were no winning tickets for Saturday night's $1 billion grand prize. Saturday's winning numbers were 3, 18, 22, 27 and 33, with a Powerball of 17. Nine tickets matched all five white balls to win $1 million, but no ticket matched all six. Four of those tickets were sold in California, and one each was sold in Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, according to Powerball. Lottery officials also said three tickets that matched all five white balls were sold with the game's "power play" option, which costs an extra $1 per ticket and doubles the value of any prizes. In the latest drawing, those tickets were worth $2 million each and sold to Powerball players in Colorado, Indiana and New Hampshire. The $1.1 billion jackpot for Monday night's drawing has an estimated cash value of $498.4 million. Based on the jackpot estimate, a single jackpot winner on Monday would have the choice of taking a lump sum payment of $498.4 million before taxes, or going with the annuity option, which would consist of one immediate payment followed by 29 annual payments that increase by 5% each year, each payment also before taxes. Saturday's drawing marked the sixth time in the game's 33-year history that the top prize has climbed to the billion-dollar mark. No one has won Powerball's jackpot since May 31, when a single ticketin Californiawon a $204.5 million jackpot with a cash value of $91.6 million. Four of the five previous billion-plus-jackpot-winning tickets were sold in California, including a single ticket sold in Altadena in 2022 that claimed a $2.04 billion jackpot, thelargest in both Powerball and lottery history. The next drawing, which takes place from the Florida Lottery live draw studio in Tallahassee, is on Monday at 11 p.m. ET. Tickets are $2 and are sold in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Long Island home renovation that uncovered a hidden story Passage: In memoriam Dr. Sanjay Gupta on the mysteries of chronic pain

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August 31, 2025

Powerball jackpot jumps to $1.1 billion after no winning tickets Saturday

Powerball jackpot jumps to $1.1 billion after no winning tickets Saturday ThePowerballjackpot has risen to an estimated $1.1 billion, the fi...

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Boy rescued by bystanders from Hersheypark elevated monorail

Boy rescued by bystanders from Hersheypark elevated monorail

A young boy was rescued as he walked along an elevated monorail track at the Hersheypark theme park in Hershey, Pa., Saturday in a momentcaught on video. According to a statement from park officials, the boy was reported missing just after 5 p.m. ET Saturday after becoming separated from his parents. "While our team was actively searching, the child entered a secured area for the Monorail, which was not in operation," the park statement said, adding that the ride was closed and barricaded at the time. "The child remained at the closed station for about 20 minutes before briefly walking along the track," the park statement continued. "A guest quickly noticed and helped guide the child to safety." MORE: Death of 9-year-old girl at Hersheypark ruled accidental, no criminal activity found: Police The video, captured by a park attendee, shows the boy walking back and forth along the elevated monorail track. A bystander then climbs atop a nearby building and then onto the track, where he takes the boy into his arms and lowers him to safety with the assitance of another bystander. "Our team members immediately responded after he was spotted on the tracks, and at approximately 5:28 p.m. the child was safely reunited with his family. He was unharmed," the Hersheypark statement said. "We are grateful for the vigilance of our guests and the swift response of our team, and we remain committed to maintaining the highest levels of guest safety throughout Hersheypark," the park statement concluded. Just over one month ago, a 9-year-old girldrownedin the wave pool at Hersheypark in a death that was ultimately ruled accidental. A review by police concluded that the park upheld safety standards and that the number of people in the wave pool at the time was "significantly less than its designed maximum capacity," according to a Derry Township Police statement released on Aug. 1.

byAlpha World

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August 31, 2025

Boy rescued by bystanders from Hersheypark elevated monorail

Boy rescued by bystanders from Hersheypark elevated monorail A young boy was rescued as he walked along an elevated monorail track at the He...

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