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Comedian Russell Brand denies allegations of sexual assault published by three UK news organizations

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 16:00:09 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Three British news organizations reported Saturday that comedian and social influencer Russell Brand has been accused of rape, sexual assault and abuse based on allegations from four women who knew him over a seven-year period at the height of his fame.Brand denied the allegations and said that all of his relationships have been consensual.The Sunday Times, The Times of London and Channel 4’s “Dispatches” said that one woman alleged she had been raped, while three others accused him of sexual assault. One of the women also said he had been physically and emotionally abusive.The women said that they only felt ready to tell their stories after being approached by reporters, with some citing Brand’s newfound prominence as an online wellness influencer as a factor in their decision to speak.Before the stories were published, Brand posted a video online denying the allegations, which had been outlined in two “extremely disturbing letters” from a “mainstream media” televisio...

TIFF’23: Robot Dreams is one of the greatest animated films of all time

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 16:00:09 GMT

It’s been nearly 100 years since silent films were the norm. They usually played in theatres with a pianist in the auditorium, or in some fancier cinemas with an orchestra. Dialogue was spoken through title cards, and the film would have to rely almost entirely on visuals to tell its story. Sound changed the game, and almost entirely eradicated silent films with only very few examples coming out over the next few decades. But anytime we do get one nowadays, they’re able to use natural sound and music incredibly inventively.Saving the best for last. My favourite film at #TIFF23 this year, a film I can't wait to show to everyone I love, is an animated silent film from Spain called Robot Dreams.— James Mackin @ TIFF 23 (@JamesMackin10) September 16, 2023Robot Dreams is a powerhouse film that has no dialogue. Directed by Spanish filmmaker Pablo Berger (who previously directed Abracadabra and Blancanieves), this is his first animated film. It’s about an anthr...

Celebs, directors and fans navigate festival at critical moment in industry

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 16:00:09 GMT

The Toronto International Film Festival wraps this weekend after 11 muted days that lacked its usual star power but still impressed movie buffs with its lineup.Labour action dominated on-the-circuit chatter, with many sympathetic filmmakers and international talent urging increased pay  and protections around the use of artificial intelligence. The festival’s red carpet premieres typically draw huge crowds of fans hoping to see A-listers such as Kate Winslet, Issa Rae and Chris Evans. Those celebs were among those who didn’t make the trek to Toronto due to the ongoing Screen Actors Guild strike despite being in some of the most buzzed-about films of the fest.But fans such as London, Ont., resident Shannon McGuire, who has attended nearly every festival since 1996, didn’t mind. McGuire acknowledged that while it’s fun to see stars, her main draw was a love of movies and she said TIFF didn’t disappoint this year. “It’s a different year, it’s b...

2 teens dead after shooting in Palatine

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 16:00:09 GMT

PALATINE, Ill. — Two teens are dead after a shooting Friday night in Palatine, according to the Palatine Police Department.Officers responded to a call of a person shot in the 1800 block of Green Lane North and found the boys with life-threatening gunshot wounds. ‘He left a huge impact’: Students shocked after assistant principal killed in shooting in Loop high-rise The identities of the two 16-year-old boys who were killed haven't been released.Palatine police and the Major Crimes Assistance Team are still investigating the incident.Anyone with information is asked to call police.

1-year-old dies at Bronx day care after possible fentanyl exposure; investigators find 'kilo press' at facility

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 16:00:09 GMT

THE BRONX, N.Y. (WPIX) – A kilo press that packages "large quantities of drugs" was found inside a New York City day care center where four small children overdosed on Friday, leaving one of the children dead, according to the NYPD.Joe Kenny, the NYPD Chief of Detectives, said at a press briefing that officers responded to find three of the children unresponsive inside the Divino Nino day care center in the Bronx on Friday afternoon, all "exhibiting symptoms of opioid exposure."Narcan was administered and revived two of them, a 2-year-old boy and 8-month-old girl.  But 1-year-old Nicholas Dominici could not be saved. Opioids, obesity now ranked as top public health threats in new poll Mayor Eric Adams, who also spoke at the briefing, said he had been in contact with the mother and father who lost their baby son. It's believed fentanyl could have been involved in the child's fatal overdose."To see the pain they are experiencing is something that all of us New Yorkers are expe...

This is how many times Pitbull has ever said 'dale'

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 16:00:09 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — You maybe never needed to know this, but you're about to have an answer regardless. Ever since Cuban-American rapper Pitbull — a.k.a. Mr. Worldwide, a.k.a. Mr. 305 — entered the music industry, he's never turned down an opportunity to represent his hometown of Miami. This is probably best illustrated by the various Pitbull-isms that pepper the artist's vast music catalogue, but especially in his use of the popular Spanish slang term "dale" (pronounced "dah-lay"). ‘Halloween’ house for sale in Southern California As the 42 year-old rapper, whose real name is Armando Perez, explains, the phrase can mean many things, though it's essentially an exclamation of excitement ("Let's go!", "Go ahead!"). In conversation with Billboard, Pitbull previously said, "[Dale] means a lot of things; it depends on how you're using it. It's my way of checking out — 'Dale, I'm out of here' — or my way of getting started. It's definitely the word I hear most. I travel around the world and run...

How to manage your student loans if you've been laid off

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 16:00:09 GMT

(NerdWallet) - If you recently lost your job and are worried about paying your student loans, you have several options to set your bill to $0.Though the national unemployment rate was just 3.8% in August, up slightly from July, layoffs continue to hit workers in industries like tech, media, entertainment, fashion and consulting. Nearly 1,000 tech companies have collectively laid off some 230,000 workers so far in 2023, according to tech industry layoff tracker Layoffs.fyi.To make matters even more stressful, federal student loan payments are set to resume in October, after more than three years of an interest-free payment pause that began in March 2020.“Don't feel bad if you have to make tough choices and reprioritize,” says Scott Stark, a senior financial planner at Financial Finesse, a workplace financial wellness company.Here’s how you can make your student loans fit into your budget as you get back on your feet.Evaluate your budget and spendingCheck your budget and spending to s...

Texas senators to vote on articles of impeachment in Ken Paxton trial, here's what you need to know

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 16:00:09 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- Eligible Texas senators are poised to vote on 16 articles of impeachment Saturday morning in the historic trial against suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton.Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, presider of the trial, announced in a press release that senators — who act as jurors — will vote on the articles a little after 11:10 a.m. Saturday.The 30 senators began deliberation Friday a little past noon, after closing arguments in the trial finished a little before noon Friday, leaving senators to consider whether they would convict Paxton on 16 different impeachment articles. The suspended attorney general's wife, state Sen. Angela Paxton of McKinney, is barred from voting and was not allowed to participate in deliberation, per the Senate rules.Jurors will vote separately on each article of impeachment. If two-thirds of the senators vote yes on an article, it will be a conviction and result in Paxton being removed as attorney general. If there are not enough senators voting yes ...

Ken Paxton acquitted on all impeachment charges

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 16:00:09 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- The Texas Senate on Saturday acquitted Attorney General Ken Paxton on all articles of impeachment he faced during a nearly two-week trial, salvaging a political career admired by conservatives nationwide but mired in years of legal concerns. COMPLETE COVERAGE: Paxton impeachment trial Senators voted to find Paxton not guilty on every charge, mostly on a 14-16 vote.Only two Republicans -- North Texas' Kelly Hancock and Jacksonville's Robert Nichols -- voted to convict Paxton on any of the charges. All other Republicans voted to find Paxton not guilty on every charge.Paxton was not present in the chamber to hear his acquittal. He will be reinstated as Attorney General following the verdict. He pleaded not guilty to all 16 charges at the beginning of trial.Senators only weighed 16 of the 20 original articles of impeachment approved by the House in late May. The Senate decided to hold them in abeyance, meaning they were not considered in this trial. The four articl...

Gophers tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford to play against North Carolina

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 16:00:09 GMT

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — The Gophers football team has positive injury news going into Saturday’s game against North Carolina. Tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford was not listed on the U’s availability report shared by the Big Ten roughly two hours before kickoff at Kenan Stadium.An important piece to Minnesota’s run and pass games, Spann-Ford took a big hit in the fourth quarter of the 25-6 win over Eastern Michigan last week, went to the injury tent for more than 20 minutes and didn’t return to the game. His issue has not been disclosed.Linebacker Cody Lindenberg has been upgraded from “out” to “questionable” against the Tar Heels. The all-Big Ten caliber player missed the first two games of the season with a leg injury.Receiver Chris Autman-Bell (knee) was listed as questionable for a third straight game. He played one snap in the 13-10 win over Nebraska on Aug. 31 and didn’t take the field against Eastern Michigan.Running back Bryce Williams will miss a second straigh...