By Andrew Hay

TAOS, N.M. (Reuters) -Police in New Mexico on Tuesday arrested a man they called their prime suspect in the fatal shootings of four Muslim men in Albuquerque since November, a series of ambush killings that have shaken the Islamic community in the state’s largest city.

Police credited tips from the public in helping investigators locate a car that detectives believed was used in at least one of the killings and ultimately track down the suspect, identified as Muhammad Syed, 51, an Albuquerque resident.

Syed was formally charged with two of the homicides: those of Aftab Hussein, 41, and Muhammed Afzaal Hussain, 27, killed on July 26 and Aug. 1, respectively, but he is considered a suspect in all four murders, Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina said at a news conference.

The latest victim, Nayeem Hussain, 25, a truck driver who became a U.S. citizen on July 8, was killed on Friday, hours after attending the burial of the two men slain in July and August, both of them of Pakistani descent.

The first known victim, Mohammad Ahmadi, 62, a native of Afghanistan, was killed on Nov. 7, 2021, while smoking a cigarette outside a grocery store and cafe that he ran with his brother in the southeastern part of the city.

Police said the two killings with which Syed was initially charged were tied together based on bullet shell casings found at the two murder scenes, and the investigation branched out from there.

According to police, detectives were preparing to search Syed’s home in southeastern Albuquerque on Monday when he drove from the residence in the car that investigators had identified to the public a day earlier as a “vehicle of interest.”

In addition to recovering multiple firearms from the suspect’s home, detectives “discovered evidence that shows the offender knew the victims to some extent, and an interpersonal conflict may have led to the shootings,” police said in a statement.

Albuquerque and state authorities have been working to provide extra police presence at mosques during times of prayer as the investigation proceeded in the city, home to as many as 5,000 Muslims out of a total population of 565,000.

The ambush-style shootings of the men, all of Pakistani or Afghan descent, have terrified Albuquerque’s Muslim community. Families went into hiding in their homes, and some Pakistani students at the University of New Mexico left town out of fear.

Imtiaz Hussain, whose brother worked as a city planning director and was killed on Aug. 1, said news of the arrest reassured many in the Muslim community.

“My kids asked me, ‘Can we sit on our balcony now?’ and I said, ‘Yes,’ and they said, ‘Can we go out and play now?’ and I said, ‘Yes,'” he said.

The three most recent victims all attended the Islamic Center of New Mexico, Albuquerque’s largest mosque. They were all shot near Central Avenue in southeastern Albuquerque.

Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller thanked local, state and federal law enforcement for their work on the case.

“We hope their swift action brings an increased sense of safety for so many who are experiencing fear from the recent shootings,” he said in a statement.

The manner in which the victims were killed suggested to relatives that the murders were hate crimes.

“There is some extreme hatred in the mind of the shooter,” said Hussain.

(Reporting by Andrew Hay in Taos, New Mexico and Rami Ayyub in Washington; Editing by Jonathan Oatis, Cynthia Osterman and Daniel Wallis)

By Nancy Lapid

(Reuters) – Drugmaker Gilead Sciences plans to announce on Tuesday that it will provide up to $5 million in grants to help a coalition of LGBTQ+ and human rights advocacy groups craft public health responses to monkeypox outbreaks, the company said.

Outside of Africa, where the virus is endemic, new cases have largely occurred among gay and bisexual men. Experts warn that the virus could spread to other populations, especially due to vaccine shortages. The World Health Organization and the United States have declared monkeypox a public health emergency.

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), GLAAD, the National Black Justice Coalition, and the National Center for Lesbian Rights are each receiving $350,000 from Gilead for public education toward preventing and treating the virus.

Gilead is a leading producer of therapies to treat HIV. The company said it is also evaluating whether any of its treatments or experimental drug candidates could be effective against monkeypox.

GLAAD’s staff has not been able to meet recent demands for information about monkeypox, said spokesperson Rich Ferraro. “With this partnership we’ll be able to do more,” he said.

The funds will help the groups produce videos, graphics and other information resources for distribution to the media and at community centers, bars, nightclubs, parties and events.

Torrian Baskerville, director of HIV and Health Equity at HRC, said the U.S. response to the virus at federal, state and local levels has been “slow across the board.”

Policy changes are urgently needed to streamline the distribution of vaccines, with current systems varying among states, he said.

NMAC – formerly the National Minority AIDS Coalition – will receive $500,000 to coordinate the coalition’s public policy efforts.

Another $3 million is reserved for emergency grants to smaller organizations worldwide. Already stretched thin by COVID-19, these groups may otherwise need to delay patients’ usual care during monkeypox outbreaks, said Gilead spokesperson Korab Zuka.

(Reporting by Nancy Lapid; editing by Michele Gershberg and Bernadette Baum)

John Travolta has led tributes to Olivia Newton-John, who died aged 73 on Monday (08.08.22).

The ‘Grease’ star gushed that the actress – who played Sandy Olsen to his Danny Zuko in the 1978 movie musical – “made all our lives so much better” on social media on a retro photo of the late star.

The 68-year-old actor wrote on Instagram: “My dearest Olivia, you made all of our lives so much better.

“Your impact was incredible. I love you so much. We will see you down the road and we will all be together again. Yours from the first moment I saw you and forever! Your Danny, your John!”

Randal Keiser, who directed the high school classic, praised her for being “one of a kind, and so very kind”.

He told the Hollywood Reporter: “I’m Heartbroken. She was one of a kind, and so very kind. For over four decades of our friendship she exuded nothing but love to everyone she met. Olivia was exactly the way you imagined her. I will miss her forever.”

George Takei lamented that Hollywood “lost a great, iconic artist” with her passing.

He wrote on Twitter: “We have lost a great, iconic artist in Olivia Newton John, gone too soon from us at age 73. I trust she is now in the great Xanadu beyond. Know that we are forever hopelessly devoted to you, Olivia. Rest in song and mirth.”

Gabrielle Union shared how much ‘Grease’ meant to her and her sister and how much she loved ‘Xanadu’.

She wrote on Twitter: “’Grease’ is my #1 movie of all time and made me a lifelong Olivia Newton John fan. Me and my sister watched Xanadu more times than I could count. Sending so much love and prayers to a real gift of a woman and talent.”

Motown legend Dionne Warwick paid her respects to her “dear friend”.

She tweeted: “Another angelic voice has been added to the Heavenly Choir. Not only was Olivia a dear friend, but one of the nicest people I had the pleasure of recording and performing with. I will most definitely miss her. She now Rests in the Arms of the Heavenly Father.”

Academy Award winner Marlee Matlin shared how she was “saddened” by the death of her ‘It’s My Party’ co-star.

She said on Twitter: “I am SO saddened at the news of the passing of Olivia Newton John. I remember being so star struck when I met her at my first Hollywood gathering for Paramount. She was the sweetest and brightest light and I loved getting to know her on “It’s My Party.” RIP dear, sweet Olivia.”

Mia Farrow added: “Very sad that lovely, talented brave Olivia Newton-John has died. I never got to meet her, but everyone says she was wonderful – always kind.”

Jane Lynch – who starred on ‘Glee’ where Olivia played a fictionalised version of herself in 2009 – tweeted: “ONJ. Angel”.

‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ director James Gun revealed that the icon was his “first real crush”.

He wrote on Twitter: “Really sad to hear about the passing of Olivia Newton-John. My first real crush as a kid. I loved Grease her music I coincidentally also bought lived in for a while the wonderful home she built in Malibu. May she Rest In Peace.”

Broadcaster Katie Couric wrote: “Rest In Peace, Olivia.”

TV chef Nigella Lawson tweeted: “Her memory is already a blessing.”

Britney Spears has confirmed her musical comeback with Elton John.

The ‘Piece of Me’ hitmaker, 40, is making her return to pop music after being freed from her conservatorship with a duet with the xx-year-old legend titled ‘Hold Me Closer’, a revamped version of his hit 1971 song ‘Tiny Dancer’.

The collaboration – which has been teased for months – was confirmed by Elton on Instagram as he posted a photo of a rose and a rocket emoji with the caption “hold me closer” on Monday (08.08.22).

Britney – who recently tied the knot with Sam Asghari, 28 – was released from a legal arrangement that gave her father Jamie Spears, 70, control over her medical, financial and other decisions since 2007 when the ‘Sometimes’ hitmaker was placed under after experiencing mental health difficulties. Currently, Jamie is involved in a misconduct allegation court case surrounding the conservatorship. Judge Brenda Parry denied a motion he put forward to have Britney come in for questioning.

This year, Britney and Sam have gone through a lot together as a couple, such as suffering the miscarriage of their “miracle baby”. They also launched required legal action after her ex Jason Alexander – who she was married to for 54 hours in 2004 – gatecrashed her wedding last month. Since then, Jason has pled not guilty to charges of stalking, trespassing, battery and vandalism.

Recently, Sam defended Britney from allegations from her ex Kevin Federline, 44 – who said their two teenage sons, Sean Preston, 16, and Jayden, 15 – are opting not to see their mother.

In an Instagram post, Sam wrote: “There is not validity to his statement regarding the kids distancing themselves and it is irresponsible to make that statement publicly. “The boys are very smart and will be 18 soon to make their own decisions and may eventually realize the ‘tough’ part was having a father who hasn’t worked much in over 15 years as a role model…Kevin’s gravy train will end soon which probably explains the timing of these hurtful statements…I do not know him personally and have nothing against him aside him choosing to vilify my wife. His character is revealed by approval of the cruel 13 year (conservatorship) and his loyalty to Jamie indicates his approval at time of its conception as well.”

Britney added: “It saddens me to hear that my ex-husband has decided to discuss the relationship between me and my children. As we all know, raising teenage boys is never easy for anyone .. It concerns me the fact that the reason is based on my Instagram … it was LONG before Instagram … I gave them everything. Only one word: HURTFUL … l’Il say it … My mother told me ‘You should GIVE them to their dad.’ I’m sharing this because I can. Have a good day folks!!!”

Rosie O’Donnell spilled all “the dirt” about the onset ‘A League of Their Own’ drama to the cast of the new television series inspired by the movie.

Kelly McCormack says the 60-year-old comedian gave all the gossip about what it was like to work on the 1992 movie about baseball and what Madonna was like as she appears in the new Amazon Prime series as Vi, a totally new character.

The 31-year-old actress told E! News’ The Daily Pop: “Rosie would tell us all the dirt. She’d be like, ‘This is what happened on set,’ and she was just talking about how much baseball they had to do and how grimy it was and working with Madonna.”

Abbi Jacobson – who stars and created the show that drops on 12 August on the streaming platform – intended the series to be an homage, instead of a recreation.

The 38-year-old funny lady said: “We really wanted to open up and get to explore characters that were outside of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, too. What was this generation of women who played baseball like?’ and, ‘How can we explore the stories that weren’t told in the film?'”

Melanie Field outlined her belief that “the heart” of the show is just find your true calling and your people.

The 34-year-old actress added: “I think at the heart and soul of this piece is just be true to yourself, follow your journey, find your team, find your family, and that your dreams matter.”

The cast were keen for any of the original stars to come and make an appearance anytime they liked, including Tom Hanks who wished them “his best”.

D’Arcy Carden, 42, said: “I can’t think of anyone from the original that I wouldn’t love to see come back. I had quick words with Tom Hanks. He sent us his best and told us how much fun he had doing the movie.”

Chante Adams, 27, concurred, added: “If Geena Davis and Tom Hanks want to make an appearance, we won’t stop them.”

Kate Berlant admitted her dream guest star would be the Queen of Pop herself, Madonna.

The 35-year-old actress said: “That was the role I think I was the most obsessed with as a kid.

Ezra Miller has been charged with felony burglary in Vermont.

‘The Flash’ star stands accused of the charge after Vermont State Police were alerted to a complaint at a property in May, according to a police report. It detailed they found various bottles of alcohol were taken from the abode without the homeowners knowledge.

Following an investigation – which included taking statements from neighbours and looking at security camera footage – the police say the found reason to press charges against the 29-year-old actor.

Ezra was found by the cops late on Sunday night (07.08.22) and given a citation to be in Vermont Superior Court for an arraignment on 26 September, the report states.

According to an investigation by Rolling Stone magazine, ‘The Perks of Being A Wallflower’ star has been providing shelter to a 25-year-old mother of three at his ranch in the town of Stamford, which is believed to be an unauthorised cannabis farm with unregulated firearms.

This arrest is the latest in a string of legal problems Ezra has found themselves in. Earlier this year, ‘We Need to Talk About Kevin’ star was arrested twice in Hawaii; once for disorderly and harassment and another time for second-degree assault.

Ezra also faces numerous assault allegations from women across the world, such as woman who claims they choked her in a bar in Iceland and another woman who says Ezra harassed her in her Berlin home.

These instances have begun speculation about the potential cancelling of upcoming standalone ‘The Flash’ flick will be halted, however executives from Warner Brothers have not implied it will be.

David Zaslav, the CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery said: “ We have seen ‘The Flash,’ ‘Black Adam’ and ‘Shazam 2.’ We are very excited about them. We’ve seen them. We think they are terrific, and we think we can make them even better.”

New York (AFP) – After releasing her much-anticipated album “Renaissance,” Beyonce has scored the number one spot on the top US songs chart for the first time in well over a decade.

Her lead single “Break My Soul” is the 40-year-old’s first solo song to hit the top of Billboard’s Hot 100 since 2008’s “Single Ladies,” the industry tracker said Monday.

Her seventh solo studio album also opened at number one on Billboard’s top albums chart, the entertainment outlet said.

It’s the second-highest debut of the year, following Harry Styles’s “Harry’s House.”

“Renaissance” also unseated Latin trap global sensation Bad Bunny from the top of the Billboard 200 albums chart, where his “Un Verano Sin Ti” had held the top spot for five straight weeks, along with two peaks when it first came out in May for a total of seven weeks at number one.

Eminently danceable and rife with nods to disco and EDM history, Beyonce’s latest album burst onto the summer scene primed for its needle drop at the club.

Beyonce’s soaring vocals have their place on “Renaissance,” but it’s the rhythmic, urgent call to the dance floor that stands out, with a tapestry of influences paying homage to pioneers of funk, soul, rap, house and disco.

In the weeks preceding the album’s release, Beyonce teased it with a steady stream of the glossy, curated portraits of herself that over the past decade have become her signature.

But though she’s received wide praise for keeping the world of music videos on the cutting edge, Beyonce put out her latest record sans visuals (they’re promised at a later date.)

For all her cultural clout and an indisputable throne in music’s pantheon, Beyonce’s songs historically have not seen the same commercial dominance as other contemporary global stars.

That was poised to change with “Renaissance” — and Queen Bey made good on her chances.

On Monday, the megastar released a series of portraits on Instagram including a clip of her in a disco ball of an outfit, smiling for the camera as she waved her finger to signal her number-one status.

Nicki Minaj will receive the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at the VMAs.

The ‘Super Freaky Girl’ hitmaker has been named the winner of the prestigious award at the MTV Video Music Awards.

Bruce Gillmer, Paramount’s president of music, music talent, programming and events and Music for Paramount COO said: “Nicki has broken barriers for women in hip-hop with her versatility and creative artistry. She has shifted the music industry and cemented her status as a global superstar with her crossover appeal, genre-defying style and continuing to be unapologetically ‘Nicki.'”

Nicki added on her Instagram on Monday (07.08.22): “I’m receiving the Video Vanguard Award at the 2022 #VMAs! You DO NOT !!!! I REPEAT!!!! You do NOTTTTTT want to miss my performance – Sunday August 28 at 8p on @MTV.”

Along with securing the gong, she will also take to the stage at the award show on 28 August for the first time since 2018, along with other named performers Anitta, J Balvin, Marshmello x Khalid and Panic! At The Disco.

Kendrick Lamar, Jack Harlow and Lil Nas X lead the list of nominations – which were revealed last month – on the night, including nods for video of the year, best collab, best direction, best art direction, best visual effects and best choreography.

Doja Cat and Harry Styles are up for six awards each, just beating Billie Eilish, Drake, Dua Lipa, Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift and The Weeknd, who all have five nominations.

Madonna – who was given her 69th VMA nod for ‘Madame X’ – became the first artist to be nominated in five decades.

Fans can vote for their favourite acts in the 22 gender neutral categories up until 19 August and can tune into see who is victorious at the ceremony, which is to take place at the Prudential Center in New Jersey, which will be simulcast live on The CW, BET, BET Her, CMT, Comedy Central, Logo, MTV2, Nickelodeon, Paramount Network. Pop, TVLand and VH1.

Jane Fonda credits Jennifer Lopez with resurrecting her career after she went 15 years without landing a role.

The 84-year-old made the admission while speaking about her decades-long career as an actress, activist, and fitness guru.

Despite her iconic status, Jane said it wasn’t until her role alongside J-Lo, 53, in 2005 film ‘Monster-in-Law’ that her career again got off the ground.

Even though it was sneered at by critics, Jane amazingly deemed the movie the “only smart thing” she has ever done in her work career.

Before it, she had not starred in a movie since 1990 when she played the title character in ‘Stanley and Iris’ alongside Robert De Niro.

The two-time Academy Award winner was quoted in the Daily Mirror saying: “The biggest stroke of luck was getting the role in Monster-in-Law at a point in my career when I had been out of the acting business for 15 years or more.

“It was with Jennifer Lopez, and it was a great comeback for me. I was almost 65 years old when I got this script out of the blue.

“It was the only smart career thing I ever did. I thought, ‘People are going to come to the movie to see J.Lo, but they’ll rediscover Fonda’, and that’s what happened.”

After the role alongside Jennifer, Jane landed parts including that of Nancy Reagan in ‘The Butler’ and Grace Hanson in Netflix’s ‘Grace and Frankie’.

Jane has also said that she feels more youthful aged 84 than she ever did in her 20s.

She admitted that she felt “lost” when she was younger and was “very unhappy, old and didn’t feel like I would live for very long”.

But she has said she regrets having a facelift in a battle to maintain her youth.

Jane admitted she is “not proud” of the operation and wouldn’t put herself through it again, telling Vogue: “I had a facelift and I stopped because I don’t want to look distorted. I’m not proud of the fact that I had one.

“Now, I don’t know if I had it to do over if I would do it. But I did it.

“I admit it, and then I just say, okay, you can get addicted. Don’t keep doing it. A lot of women, I don’t know, they’re addicted to it.”

Gillian Anderson wants her next role to be a psychopath.

The 53-year-old actress says she wants to diversify after playing mainly trailblazing and independent women, including Dana Scully in ‘The X Files’, Margaret Thatcher in ‘The Crown’ and Jean Milburn in ‘Sex Education’.

She told the Daily Mirror: “Women interest me. I enjoy it (playing real life women.) But the pressure and expectation is greater.

“I might take a break for a while and play some psychopaths.”

It comes after Gillian was touted for a role as a villain in ‘Doctor Who’ by the new Time Lord Ncuti Gatwa, who starred alongside Gillian in ‘Sex Education’ as Eric Effiong.

Gillian added her success is down to taking risks, saying: “I don’t think I’ve ever stayed in my lane, figuratively and literally.

“I remember being in a therapy session with my mum, working through some stuff.:

She added her mother told a therapist: “No one is ever telling Gillian what she could and couldn’t do. She’s going to do what she wants’.

“That was true then and now.”

Mum-of-three Gillian added: “If I’d listened to other people I wouldn’t have ended up in the UK, wouldn’t have ended up doing theatre, ‘The X-Files’… sometimes you can succeed if you don’t toe the party line.”

She recalled in podcast ‘The Envelope’: “It felt like something changed in 2016.

“In that year I was getting to play Blanche in ‘Streetcar’ and in ‘The Fall’.

“I remember thinking, ‘If I die this year, I’ll be happy’. I get to play these amazing extraordinary women for different reasons.

“One an absolute hot mess and the other supposedly under control. They were a real force for feminism.”

By Rich McKay

BRUNSWICK, Ga. (Reuters) -A judge sentenced Travis McMichael to life in prison on Monday for committing federal hate crimes in the 2020 killing of Ahmaud Arbery, a Black man shot while jogging in a mostly white Georgia neighborhood in a case that involved issues of racist violence and vigilantism in America.

U.S. District Judge Lisa Godbey Wood sentenced McMichael, a 36-year-old white former U.S. Coast Guard mechanic, in the coastal city of Brunswick. McMichael already is serving a life sentence with no possibility of parole after being convicted of Arbery’s murder in a state trial last November. He was the first of the three white men convicted in February in a subsequent federal trial to be sentenced in consecutive hearings on Monday.

In handing down the sentence, Wood said the widely seen cellphone video of McMichael shooting Arbery at close range with a shotgun was seared into her memory.

“You acted because of the color of Mr. Arbery’s skin,” the judge told McMichael, who looked ashen as the sentence was pronounced.

McMichael, his father Gregory McMichael, 66, and their neighbor William “Roddie” Bryan, 52, were found guilty of violating Arbery’s civil rights by attacking him because of his race and of attempted kidnapping. Gregory McMichael and Bryan are scheduled to be sentenced later in the day.

Arbery’s case is one in a series of killings of Black people in recent years that have drawn attention to the issue of racism in the U.S. criminal justice system and law enforcement. It also highlighted the broader issue of U.S. gun violence.

The slain man’s father, Marcus Arbery, told the court during the hearing: “These three devils have broken my heart into pieces that cannot be found or repaired.” Referring to Travis McMichael, he added: “You hate Black people.”

Travis McMichael, who declined his right to testify at the hearing, had asked through his lawyer to be transferred out of the state prison system into a federal prison he perceived to be safer. Wood said the rules required that McMichael return to the state prison system where he is already serving a life sentence.

His lawyer, Amy Lee Copeland, said a Georgia state prison was too dangerous for him and that he had received death threats.

“This case involves at least in part concerns of vigilante justice,” she told the court. “I realize the rich irony, judge, in expressing my concern that my client will face vigilante justice himself.”

Federal prosecutors argued any such transfer would amount to special treatment for which there is no legal basis.

The three men were convicted last November in state court of murder, aggravated assault, false imprisonment and criminal intent to commit a felony, with a jury rejecting self-defense claims. They have appealed their state convictions.

Gregory McMichael was a former Glynn County police officer who later worked for the local prosecutor’s office. Roddie Bryan worked as a mechanic.

Arbery had gone jogging through the leafy Satilla Shores neighborhood, near Brunswick, on a February 2020 afternoon when the McMichaels decided to grab their guns, jump in a pickup truck and give chase. Their neighbor Bryan joined the chase in his own pickup truck and pulled out his cellphone to record Travis McMichael firing a shotgun at Arbery at close range. Arbery had nothing on him besides his running clothes and sneakers.

The video emerged months later, prompting anti-racism protests in a number of cities because the McMichaels and Bryan had not been arrested after a local prosecutor concluded the killing was justified.

The McMichaels have said they believed that Arbery appeared suspicious, speaking of a series of neighborhood break-ins. No evidence ever emerged connecting Arbery to any Satilla Shore thefts.

In the hate crimes trial, the McMichaels were also convicted of a federal firearms charge.

In that case, the McMichaels had agreed to plead guilty and the son acknowledged in court that he singled out Arbery because of his “race and color.” The judge rejected the plea agreement because it would have bound her to a 30-year sentence to be served in federal prison before the men were returned to the Georgia prison system, considered harsher than federal penitentiaries. The plea deals were subsequently withdrawn.

(Reporting by Rich McKay in Brunswick, Ga.; Additional reporting by Jonathan Allen in New York; editing by Donna Bryson and Howard Goller)