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Published by BANG Showbiz English Taylor Lautner has got married. The ‘Twilight’ actor tied the knot with 24-year-old Taylor Dome in front of around 100 guests at Epoch Estate Wines, outside of Paso Robles, California, on Friday (11.11.22) evening, exactly a year after they got engaged after three years of dating. The couple exchanged vows at the winery shortly before sunset, with photos obtained by MailOnline showing the blonde beauty wore a flowing white wedding dress with lace overlay and long train, with her blonde hair loose and topped by a veil. Meanwhile, the 30-year-old groom looked smart in a black tuxedo and bow tie, matched by his groomsmen, and the five bridesmaids wore different styles of dresses in the same olive green hue. The ‘Abduction’ star previously confirmed Taylor, who is a nurse, was going to take his surname after their marriage, despite the potential confusion. He said: “[I was] like, are you into this last name? Because we already share one name. So it’s gonna be extra complicated. “We’re literally going to be the same person.” Despite this, the actor can’t wait to tie the knot and Lautner admits that he’s a “very lucky” man. Speaking earlier this year, he said: “I knew when I first met her that I wanted to get to know her more, and I really, really could see a future with her. She’s a fantastic woman and I’m very lucky that she chose me.” The loved-up couple began dating in 2018 and they announced their engagement to the world via social media in 2021. The Hollywood star even posted some behind-the-scenes photos of the special moment on his Instagram account. Taylor – who played Jacob Black in the ‘Twilight’ film series – captioned his post: “11.11.2021. And just like that, all of my wishes came true (sic)” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Tom Daley’s son begs him to stop knitting. The Olympic diver loves making woolly garments for four-year-old Robbie – who he has with husband Dustin Lance Black – but admitted his enthusiasm isn’t always shared by the little boy. He said: “I love making stuff for my son Robbie. “I’ve made him so many jumpers and cardigans. “It has got to a point where I sometimes get the needles out and he’s like, ‘Papa, no more knitting.’ “Bu he’s been asking for a hat for a while so that’s my next project.” Tom is looking forward to teaching his skills to his son and believes it’s a pursuit all children should be taught. He said: “I can’t wait to teach Robbie to knit. He does want to but as he’s only four, I don’t think he has the dexterity just yet. “I’d love to get knitting to become part of the extracurricular programme. “It’s such a good thing for kids to learn – to get them doing something with their hands, making something themselves.” The 28-year-old sportsman dreams of showing his wares professionally one day. He said: “I’m excited about the possibilities knitting and crochet can bring. “One day I’d love to have my own Fashion Week show, but mostly I want to pass on my passion for knitting, to get people back into the joys of slow fashion and making things for themselves.” But first, Tom needs to persuade Lance to give more space in their home to his hobby. He told Prima magazine: “I would love my own craft room. “I have a yarn stash in my wardrobe and I’ve kind of taken over the kitchen table, much to my husband’s dismay.” View the full article

Published by AFP Director Ryan Coogler (L), poses with 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever' cast members (L-R) Lupita Nyong'o, Letitia Wright, Danai Gurira and Winston Duke at a SiriusXM event in New York on November 7, 2022 Los Angeles (AFP) – Disney and Marvel’s highly anticipated “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” had a huge opening this weekend, taking in an estimated $180 million in North American theaters, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported Sunday. That domestic opening — the 13th highest all-time, according to BoxOfficePro.com — came as the film was raking in an impressive $330 million worldwide, a major boost for Hollywood after a lackluster October. “This is a sensational opening,” said David A. Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research. “Reviews and audience scores are excellent — Wakanda should dominate moviegoing… into December.” The film pays heartfelt tribute to the star of the original “Black Panther,” Chadwick Boseman, who died from cancer in 2020 at age 43. He makes several flashback appearances as the fictional Wakanda fights against an underwater kingdom after the death of Boseman’s character, King T’Challa. Letitia Wright, as T’Challa’s sister Shuri, and Angela Bassett, as Queen Ramonda, struggle to fill the king’s shoes. Also starring are Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira and Winston Duke. The original “Black Panther,” the first major black superhero movie, became a cultural phenomenon, with a $202 million opening and a best-picture Oscar nomination. Far, far behind in second place this weekend was Warner Bros.’ “Black Adam,” at $8.6 million — not even one-twentieth the “Wakanda” total. The Dwayne Johnson vehicle, a spinoff from 2019’s “Shazam!,” has now taken in $141.1 million domestically. Universal’s rom-com “Ticket to Paradise,” powered by mega-stars Julia Roberts and George Clooney, managed to defy the superhero trend to place third, taking in $6.1 million in its fourth week out. A family-friendly film, Sony’s live-action/computer animated musical comedy “Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile,” placed fourth at $3.2 million. And Paramount’s horror movie “Smile” continued to find viewers in its seventh week out, coming in fifth. With an estimated take of $2.3 million for the Friday-through-Sunday period, its domestic total bumped up to $102 million. Rounding out the top 10 were: “Prey for the Devil” ($2.0 million) “The Banshees of Inisherin” ($1.7 million) “One Piece Film: Red” ($1.4 million) “Till” ($618,000) “Armageddon Time” ($352,000) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Lisa Richwine LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Marvel Studios adventure “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” brought crowds to movie theaters around the globe over the weekend, selling an estimated $330 million in tickets and setting a November record in the United States and Canada. The sequel to 2018 Oscar-nominated blockbuster “Black Panther” racked up roughly $180 million at domestic theaters Thursday night through Sunday, distributor Walt Disney Co said. That marked the highest total ever for a film opening in November, topping the $158.1 million for 2013 film “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.” Outside the domestic market, “Wakanda Forever” pulled in an estimated $150 million from Wednesday through Sunday. It ranked as the top-grossing Hollywood release in all markets. The results provided a boost to movie theaters, which have struggled to return to pre-pandemic levels of ticket sales. The domestic total ranked as the No. 13 movie debut of all time. “One of the top 15 openings of all time tells me the box office is pretty healthy when there is something audiences what to see,” said Jeff Bock, senior media analyst at Exhibitor Relations Co. “Marvel time and time again offers something audiences want to see.” The original “Black Panther,” starring Chadwick Boseman as King T’Challa, broke ground as the first superhero movie with a predominantly Black cast. The film took in $1.3 billion at worldwide box offices over its run and became the only superhero movie ever nominated for best picture at the Academy Awards. Marvel had to rework “Wakanda Forever” after Boseman died of cancer in 2020 just before filming was supposed to begin. The studio decided not to cast another actor in the role of T’Challa. Instead, writer and director Ryan Coogler crafted a new film that centers around T’Challa’s younger sister Shuri (Letitia Wright), his mother Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett) and other women who step up to help lead the grieving nation. Film critics praised the sequel, saying Marvel had succeeded in paying tribute to Boseman while offering a compelling film despite the loss of the popular lead character. The movie scored an 84% positive rating from movie critics, and 95% positive from audiences, in reviews collected on the Rotten Tomatoes website. Bock said his local theater was buzzing with a packed crowd for one of the first “Wakanda Forever” screenings. “I hadn’t seen that for months,” he said. Box office year-to-date ticket sales stand at $6.5 billion through Sunday in the domestic market, according to Comscore. That is 33% below the pre-pandemic year of 2019. The problem is a thin slate of films, Bock said. Many Hollywood studios are still dealing with COVID-induced production delays. The number of wide releases in 2022 is 37% lower than in 2017. Theaters are looking ahead to Disney’s “Avatar: The Way of Water” in December, and a larger number of films in 2023, to increase ticket sales. (Reporting by Lisa Richwine; Editing by Lisa Shumaker) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Tim Reid and Kanishka Singh PHOENIX (Reuters) -Democrats held onto control of the U.S. Senate while limiting projected losses in the House, handing a major victory to President Joe Biden and extinguishing hopes of the “red wave” that Republicans had expected leading into the midterm elections. Democratic leaders described the outcome – sealed late Saturday with a win for the incumbent senator in Nevada – as both a vindication of their agenda and a rebuke of Republican candidates, many of whom had parroted former president Donald Trump’s false claims about widespread election fraud. “We were on the edge of autocracy and, thank God, the American people pulled us back in this election,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said at a news conference on Sunday. The better-than-expected performance gave Biden, who struggled with low approval ratings ahead of Tuesday’s elections amid persistently high inflation, a political lift ahead of what are expected to be intense talks on a range of geopolitical issues with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Monday in Indonesia. Republicans, however, remained close to seizing control of the House of Representatives as officials continued counting ballots, with returns still flowing in for several races, including many in liberal-leaning California. As of late on Saturday, Republicans had won 211 seats and the Democrats 205, with 218 needed for a majority. It could take several days before the outcome of enough House races is known to determine which party will control the 435-seat chamber. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, 82, told ABC News and CNN that she would not make any announcements about whether she planned to remain in House leadership until after control of the chamber was decided. There had been speculation she would resign if Democrats lost the majority, especially after her husband was attacked by an intruder at their San Francisco home last month. House Republicans, should they prevail, have pledged to try to roll back Biden-led legislation to battle climate change and want to make permanent a series of 2017 tax cuts set to expire. They also have vowed investigations into Biden administration activities and probes of the president’s son, who has had business dealings with Ukraine and China. Jim Banks, a Republican congressman from Indiana, said on Sunday that he expected his party to win a slim majority in the House and serve as “the last line of defense to block the Biden agenda,” while launching investigations into the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, the origin of COVID and pandemic lockdowns. “That has to be a focal point of every single committee in the Congress, especially in the House under Republican control,” Banks said in an interview on “Fox News Sunday”. FOCUSING ON GEORGIA The Democrats will control the Senate, as they have for the past two years, with 50 of its 100 seats, by virtue of Vice President Kamala Harris holding the tie-breaking vote. Their majority was clinched by Nevada Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, who narrowly defeated Republican Adam Laxalt. “When the national pundits said I couldn’t win, I knew Nevada would prove them wrong,” Cortez Masto said in a victory speech on Sunday morning. For the Senate, attention will now shift to Georgia, where Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock and Republican challenger Herschel Walker face off in a runoff on Dec. 6. If Warnock were to win, the Democrats’ 51-49 majority would give them an additional edge in passing the few bills that are able to advance with a simple majority, instead of the 60 needed for most legislation. Hovering over the 2022 midterm elections all year has been Trump, who used his continued popularity among hard-right conservatives to influence the candidates the Republican Party nominated for congressional, gubernatorial and local races. With Republicans’ lackluster performance – even if they win a narrow majority in the House – Trump has been blamed for boosting candidates who were unable to appeal to a broad enough electorate. A Republican loss in Georgia could further dampen Trump’s popularity as advisers say he considers announcing this week a third run for the presidency in 2024. The outcome may increase the chances that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who routed his Democratic opponent on Tuesday, opts to challenge Trump for the 2024 presidential nomination. Democrats had portrayed Republicans as extremist, pointing to the Supreme Court’s decision to eliminate a nationwide right to abortion and the hundreds of Republican nominees who promoted Trump’s baseless claims that the 2020 presidential election was fraudulent. Pelosi attributed her party’s performance to Democratic candidates knowing their districts and maintaining focus on the issues voters cared about even as pundits in Washington predicted big losses and called for a change in approach. “They knew the value of a woman’s right to choose. They knew how important it was to protect our democracy. They knew the contrast between themselves and their opponents,” Pelosi told ABC. Continued control of the Senate means Democrats will still be able to approve Biden’s nominees such as federal judges. That would include appointees to the Supreme Court should any vacancies open in the next two years on the bench with a 6-3 conservative majority. (Reporting by Tim Reid in Phoenix and Kanishka Singh, Richard Cowan and Jason Lange and Joel Schectman in Washington; Writing by Kanishka Singh and Nathan Layne; Editing by William Mallard and Bill Berkrot) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Tim Reid (Reuters) – Republicans who back former President Donald Trump’s false claim the 2020 election was stolen were their party’s nominees for secretary of state in battleground states where if elected they stood to play a decisive role in choosing a U.S. president. Voting rights groups were focused on secretary of state races in Arizona, Nevada and Michigan, and said victory by these Republican candidates could have threatened both the integrity of the next presidential election and U.S. democracy itself: MARK FINCHEM, ARIZONA Finchem is a state legislator, has claimed membership in the far-right militia group the Oath Keepers, and has parroted false conspiracy theories propagated by the QAnon movement, including that leading politicians are part of a pedophile ring. He was defeated by Democrat Adrian Fontes, Edison Research predicted late on Friday. Finchem supported the “Stop the Steal” movement that falsely claimed the 2020 election was fraudulent and attended Trump’s rally in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021, that preceded the violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Finchem says he did not go from Trump’s rally to the Capitol that day. Finchem has said he would not have certified Biden’s 2020 victory in Arizona. He supported an audit of Arizona’s election results and co-sponsored a bill that would give the state’s Republican-controlled legislature the power to overturn election results. After the 2020 election, he also called for the arrest of the state’s Democratic secretary of state, Katie Hobbs, who is running for governor in this election. KRISTINA KARAMO, MICHIGAN Edison Research projected that voters have re-elected Democrat Jocelyn Benson over Karamo. Karamo was a little-known political figure in Michigan but soared to prominence – and onto Trump’s radar – when she claimed in 2020 that she had witnessed fraud at Detroit’s absentee counting board as a poll observer. A community college professor who opposes the teaching of evolution in schools, Karamo testified before the state legislature that she had seen sacks of votes being mysteriously dropped off in the middle of the night, and that voting machines flipped votes to Biden. No evidence has ever emerged supporting those claims. JIM MARCHANT, NEVADA A former state assemblyman, Marchant opposed certification of Biden’s win in Nevada. He was a member of Nevada’s bogus alternative slate of presidential electors that sought to overturn Biden’s victory in the state. Democrat Cisco Aguilar defeated him to win the secretary of state race, Edison Research projected late on Saturday. Marchant ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2020 but lost. He unsuccessfully sued to have that result overturned, basing his case on unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud. Marchant is a member of the America First Secretary of State Coalition, a group supporting a slate of candidates supporting Trump’s baseless claims about the 2020 election. In Nevada, the secretary of state does not have the power to certify results but can set and enforce election rules. (Reporting by Tim Reid; Editing by Ross Colvin, Howard Goller, Jonathan Oatis and Daniel Wallis) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Rich McKay (Reuters) – Country music star and philanthropist Dolly Parton received a $100 million prize from the “Bezos Courage & Civility Award” given by Amazon.com founder, billionaire Jeff Bezos, an honor that recognizes leaders who “pursue solutions with courage and civility,” he said online. Bezos, who is also the owner of the space rocket company Blue Origin, announced the award on Friday along with his longtime partner, news anchor Lauren Sanchez. Sanchez said on Instagram that Parton is “a woman who gives with her heart and leads with love and compassion in every aspect of her work.” “We can’t wait to see all the good that you’re going to do with this $100 million award,” she said. Parton, in a video clip of the ceremony posted online, said, “Wow! Did you say $100 million?” “I think people who are in a position to help should put their money where their heart is. I will do my best to do good things with this money,” she said Parton, 76, a county, pop and gospel singer-songwriter, whose songs include, “I Will Always Love You,” “Jolene,” and many other hits over the decades, has been a longtime philanthropist. She donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University’s Medical Center to help develop a vaccine during the COVID-19 pandemic. Parton, who this month was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, also has founded a number charities including the Dollywood Foundation, which focuses on education as well as poverty relief. Bezos’ award was started in 2001, with prizes first going to activist Van Jones, who served as founding CEO of the REFORM Alliance and Dream Corps, and chef and humanitarian Jose Andres, who established World Central Kitchen, which provides food in the immediate aftermath of disasters. (Reporting by Rich McKay in Atlanta; Editing by Bill Berkrot) View the full article

Published by PopCrush A gay couple finally tied the knot after being refused by 31 churches to hold their ceremony. At first, couple Shane Yerrell and David Sparrey wanted to wait to wed. However, after experiencing a family health issue, they decided to tie the knot. They always envisioned a wedding at a church, as they are both Christians. Sparrey began the search for a wedding venue. According to MyLondon, they were denied by 31 churches, seemingly due to their sexual orientation. He spent roughly 15 hours on the phone trying to find a church that was willing. On lucky phone call number 32, the couple’s prayers … Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Dua Lipa will not be performing at the Qatar World Cup. The decision to host the football tournament in the Gulf state has caused deep controversy due to Qatar’s stance on homosexuality – which is illegal in the country – and even though the 27-year-old pop star was rumoured to be taking to the stage there later this month, she has explained that no such performance has ever been on the agenda. She wrote on Instagram: “There is currently a lot of speculation that I will be performing at the opening ceremony of the world cup in Qatar. I will not be performing and nor have I ever been involved in any negotiation to perform. “ The ‘Levitating’ hitmaker went on to add that she will be “cheering” for England nonetheless but promised that she would never visit Qatar until officials have “fulfilled all human rights.” She added: “I will be cheering England on from afar and I look forward to visiting Qatar when it has fulfilled all the human rights pledges it made when it won the right to host the World Cup.” Her comments come just days after England manager Gareth Southgate explained that his team will not be afraid to talk about human rights concerns at the World Cup. FIFA has issued a plea to the 32 competing nations to “let football take the stage” at the tournament in Qatar but the Three Lions boss says it is “highly unlikely” that the team will adhere to the governing body’s request. Gareth said: “We have always spoken about issues we think should be talked about, particularly the ones we feel we can affect. Contrary to one or two observations in the last few weeks, we have spoken in the same way other nations have spoken about this tournament, the human rights challenges. We’ve been very clear on our standpoint on that. So, look I think we would like to focus primarily on the football. For every player, every coach and everybody travelling to a World Cup, this is a carnival of football. So regarding the LGBT community, we stand for inclusivity and we are very, very strong on that. We think that is important in terms of all our supporters. We understand the challenges this tournament brings within that, If it wasn’t for the strength of that community, we wouldn’t be women’s European champions. So it’s very, very important to us.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Sir Rod Stewart turned down a gig in Qatar even though he was offered more than $1 million. The 77-year-old rock legend was offered the seven-figure sum to entertain crowds in the Middle East country – which has been chosen to host the upcoming World Cup but has drawn controversy over the decision because homosexuality is illegal there- in 2021 and rejected the lucrative gig because it “wasn’t right” to go. He told The Sunday Times: “I was actually offered a lot of money, over $1 million, to play there 15 months ago. I turned it down. It’s not right to go. And the Iranians should be out too for supplying arms. Tell you what, supporters have got to watch out, haven’t they?” The upcoming football tournament will feature performances from the likes of former Take That star Robbie Williams as well as Craig David and Tinie Tempah but pop singer Dua Lipa recently slammed rumours that she would be taking to the stage and vowed never to visit the country until “all human rights” are granted. She said: “There is currently a lot of speculation that I will be performing at the opening ceremony of the world cup in Qatar. I will not be performing and nor have I ever been involved in any negotiation to perform. will be cheering England on from afar and I look forward to visiting Qatar when it has fulfilled all the human rights pledges it made when it won the right to host the World Cup.” FIFA has issued a plea to the 32 competing nations to “let football take the stage” at the tournament in Qatar but the England manager Gareth Southgate says it is “highly unlikely” that the team will adhere to the governing body’s request. He said: “We have always spoken about issues we think should be talked about, particularly the ones we feel we can affect. Contrary to one or two observations in the last few weeks, we have spoken in the same way other nations have spoken about this tournament, the human rights challenges. We’ve been very clear on our standpoint on that. So, look I think we would like to focus primarily on the football. For every player, every coach and everybody travelling to a World Cup, this is a carnival of football. So regarding the LGBT community, we stand for inclusivity and we are very, very strong on that. We think that is important in terms of all our supporters. We understand the challenges this tournament brings within that, If it wasn’t for the strength of that community, we wouldn’t be women’s European champions. So it’s very, very important to us.” View the full article

Published by Radar Online Mega Leah Remini is demanding an investigation be opened into a Los Angeles police officer who is accused of leaking confidential information to the press because he’s the same man she filed a missing person’s report with when the leader of the Church of Scientology David Miscavige‘s wife vanished 15 years ago, RadarOnline.com has learned. Remini, who’s an outspoken ex-Scientologist, called out LAPD veteran Cory Palka after she learned he has been accused of leaking private information about sexual misconduct accusations against former CBS CEO Les Moonves to the network’s executives. The King of Queens actress claimed he was in charge of the Hollywood division where she filed her missing person’s report for Shelly Miscavige in 2013. She also shared a photo of Cory proudly accepting a $20,000 check allegedly from Scientology during an LAPD charity event. Mega Bringing up the recent allegations against Cory, Remini tweeted that it “begs the question…what investigative information has he provided to Scientology over the years?” Shelly has not been seen in public since 2006. Remini recalled her shock when she discovered that Shelly was not at Tom Cruise‘s wedding to Katie Holmes, which was dubbed “the wedding of the century in Scientology.” “Shelly was always with her husband. She was his shadow, not only because she was married to him but also because she was his top aide,” Remini wrote on Thursday. “For her not to be in attendance was not only unusual but also unimaginable.” The actress said when she left the Church in 2013, her “first goal was to try and find Shelly,” so she filed a missing person’s report. Mega “Hours after I filed the missing person’s report, the case was closed, and the LAPD announced to the press that they had found Shelly,” Remini explained. “This news was released first to the press, not to me, who filed the report. I learned about all of this from the media, not from the LAPD.” She claimed that when she asked if detectives had spoken to or seen Shelly, she was told that was “classified” information. “Scientology has always done a great job at ingratiating itself with law enforcement despite being experts in obstructing justice,” she alleged, adding that the Church often “hires off-duty LAPD cops as security and donates to LAPD charities.” According to Remini, when she met with Cory about Shelly’s disappearance, “he had a letter on his desk thanking him for all his help with Scientology matters and inviting him to come and have lunch, as a guest, at the Celebrity Center.” She said she was “so alarmed by Cory’s closeness with Scientology” that she offered to double any donations the Church offered if he stopped accepting charity from the religious group. “Cory was incredibly dismissive,” she wrote. Remini also provided emails allegedly between Cory and top Scientology officials — but she said he’s not the only LAPD officer who had a “friendly” relationship with the Church. “LAPD Lieutenant Andre Dawson, the detective in charge of my missing person’s report into Shelly Miscavige, also has a cozy relationship with Scientology,” Remini stated, showing a photo of him “speaking at Scientology’s celebrity center at an event about human trafficking.” Mega Remini ended her thread by calling for an investigation “into Cory’s relationship with Scientology and the LAPD’s interactions with Scientology overall,” adding, “the LAPD must not attend Scientology events anymore or accept their funds.” She concluded by asking the age-old question: “WHERE IS SHELLY???” Remini left Scientology nearly 10 years ago and has been on a crusade to expose the Church through her show,Scientology and the Aftermath. Most recently, her name was called out in longtime Scientologist Danny Masterson‘s trial. The That 70s Show actor is fighting three charges of forcible rape. He faces 45 years in prison if convicted. Remini tweeted about the trial, leaving Masterson’s attorney to claim that her social media posts made it “difficult” for the actor to get a “fair trial.” However, as RadarOnline.com reported, the judge didn’t see it that way and assured Masterson’s lawyer that “Ms. Remini’s views don’t influence my legal rulings. I follow the case law, and so whatever she is tweeting about certainly has no bearing on the court.” View the full article

Published by Reuters By James Oliphant and Gram Slattery WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Days before he is expected to launch another White House run, Donald Trump is again at war with his own party, angrily denouncing potential rivals, airing old grievances and acting more like the insurgent who stormed to victory six years ago than a former president. The former one-term president has slapped the man seen as his main threat, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, with the label “DeSanctimonious” and tried out a nickname with a racist tone for Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin as he looks to ward off any challengers for his party’s 2024 nomination. For Trump, who has long viewed himself as a wrecking ball within the party, it’s much same playbook he ran in his successful 2016 campaign and in his failed 2020 re-election bid. But it comes as a growing chorus of Republicans are blaming him for their weaker-than-expected performance in Tuesday’s congressional elections and when Trump may need to build support across the party rather than drive it away. Erstwhile Republican luminaries such as former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and former congressman Paul Ryan and conservative outlets such as Fox News Channel and the Wall Street Journal have criticized Trump for injecting himself into the midterms, arguing that his involvement spurred Democratic turnout and alienated independent voters. Trump in turn has blasted back, accusing the media without evidence of favoring DeSantis in a conspiracy to deny him the nomination. Trump has a history of marginalizing his opponents with derisive nicknames and rallying his supporters against them as he did in 2016 with rivals such as Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio. “He frames people up and allows his supporters to knock them down,” said a Florida Republican strategist, who asked not to be identified to protect his relationship with Trump. ALLIES TRY TO SOFTEN TRUMP But in recognition that the political landscape since 2016 may have markedly changed, people around Trump are trying to persuade him to soften his image, fearing that his scorched-earth rhetoric is turning off a lot of voters who may like his policies but are starving for some normalcy, a senior adviser told Reuters. There is also an effort underway to get Trump to focus less on past grievances. “The 2016 campaign was about solving problems and offering ideas. We are trying to convince him to talk about the future. We’ll see what happens,” the adviser said. With the party splintering, some of Trump’s allies are already trying to publicly demonstrate their loyalty. Elise Stefanik, the No. 3 Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives, endorsed him on Friday, though he has not yet launched a run and the first party primary is over a year away. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia said on Twitter that successful Republican governors should stay in place and not try to run for president. Neither DeSantis, who was convincingly re-elected to a second term on Tuesday, nor Youngkin, a first-term governor, have announced a presidential bid, although DeSantis is reportedly strongly considering one. In a Friday post on his Truth Social network, Trump called Youngkin “Young Kin” and said, “sounds Chinese, doesn’t it?” Youngkin is not Chinese. The day earlier, Trump posted a long harangue about DeSantis that again called him Ron “DeSanctimonious” and said he owes his political fortunes to Trump. Two Florida Republicans close to DeSantis predicted the governor would be wary of responding directly, keeping his focus on the state’s recovery from Hurricane Ian and policy issues. By keeping out of the fray for now, they said, DeSantis would highlight how his governing style differs from Trump’s more combative and less policy-focused approach, they said. Trump’s early presidential announcement, set for Tuesday, may be viewed as an attempt to clear the field before the race even begins, but the sharpening criticism within the party suggests that won’t happen. Republicans had been expected to take control of the House by a wide margin but as of Friday weren’t assured of a takeover at all as votes continued to be tallied in several races. In the Senate, Trump-backed candidates in states such as Pennsylvania and Georgia stumbled and his pick in Arizona, Blake Masters, appeared to be on track to lose to Democratic Senator Mark Kelly. (Reporting by James Oliphant and Gram Slattery; additional reporting by Jarrett Renshaw; Editing by Scott Malone and Alistair Bell) View the full article

Published by Radar Online mega Megyn Kelly sang Mike Pence‘s praises and called the former vice president “a classy guy” on a recent episode of her podcast, RadarOnline.com has learned. Kelly and her guests spoke about the former VP during her SiriusXM radio show, The Megyn Kelly Show, while they discussed an excerpt from Pence’s book, So Help Me God, that talked about a meeting he had with the ex-prez Donald Trump following the January 6 insurrection. The group dissected Trump’s inability to accept a loss, as they trashed him for putting his VP’s life in danger during the attack on the Capitol. mega “The thing about election denialism was like, I don’t know, like a robot malfunctioning,” Kelly said while talking about Trump pushing election fraud. “He couldn’t see it. He’s so adverse to losing and losers, he just wasn’t able to say, ‘this one got away.'” Kelly then read an excerpt from Pence’s book which detailed an alleged conversation between Pence and Trump on January 11. Pence alleged a somber Trump asked him if he was “scared” in regard to being at the Capitol on January 6. mega “Of course this is when Trump antagonized Mike Pence, his supporters were screaming hang Mike Pence, Trump had tweeted out aggressive tweets about Mike Pence,” Kelly said. “Mike Pence was in danger that way, there’s no question. And it was in part, large part, because of Donald Trump,” Kelly added. mega Kelly then read another portion of the book where Pence asked, “What if we hadn’t had the rally? What if they hadn’t gone to the Capitol? It’s too terrible to end like this.” Kelly praised Pence for not backing down on Trump’s request to not certify the election — even when the former president “sic’d the mob” on him. “Pence at this moment is a classy guy, as I think he usually is,” Kelly told her guests. Kelly joins numerous conservative talk show hosts and media that have now turned their back on the former president following disastrous midterm election results. View the full article

Published by Radar Online Mega Tiffany Trumpis getting the show on the road for her weekend wedding after Hurricane Nicole threatened to ruin her Florida ceremony. Her father Donald Trump‘s Mar-a-Lago estate was buzzing with action on Friday afternoon as staffers rushed to set the scene for her Saturday nuptials to billionaire Michael Boulos, RadarOnline.com can report. The 29-year-old bride-to-be is Trump’s youngest daughter. The father-daughter duo was spotted practicing walking down the aisle at the ex-president’s Palm Beach, Florida, palace while overseeing the ceremony setup. In the photos obtained by RadarOnline.com, Tiffany beamed with happiness as Trump looked stoic for his daddy duties. Despite the ceremony, and practice run, taking place on his own lawn, #45 was photographed wearing a crisp, blue suit. Mega Daily Mail got snaps of dozens of trucks parked at the estate, with double the amount of workers unloading the wedding decor. Men in red shirts were seen building a large stage on Trump’s lawn while others were spotted carrying a large table with the bride and groom’s initials. Earlier this week, Tiffany was forced to send staffers home due to Category-1 Hurricane Nicole barreling through Florida. The future Mrs. Boulos was reportedly “flipping out” as the natural disaster threatened to ruin her marriage plans. “They’ve sent staff home,” a close pal told Page Six. “Tiffany is still there. Some guests came in for the week, and they had all these things planned. It was going to be a whole over-the-top thing. They had to cancel events today and canceled a golf outing for tomorrow. Everyone is stuck inside.” The Hurricane — which left five dead — has moved on from Florida, making way for the Trumps to continue with their party plans. Mega Tiffany’s wedding will mark the first big event at Mar-a-Lago since the FBI’s August raid. As RadarOnline.com reported, Trump and his aides are being investigated for possible mishandling of classified information, obstruction, and destruction of government records. Agents seized roughly 13,000 documents during the raid, with 103 of them being classified and 18 top-secret. Some of the classified documents are said to have had intel about Iran’s missile program and U.S. intelligence work aimed at China. Trump denied the accusation, dropping his favorite line: “fake news.” The investigation isn’t the only reason Tiffany’s dad is making headlines. Mega Fellow Republicans are allegedly turning on Trump after the midterms that failed to produce the “red wave” he promised. His party is reportedly urging him to hold off on announcing his possible 2024 run for president, with the majority allegedly no longer backing him for a second term. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Lea Michele had to miss a performance of ‘Funny Girl’ after sustaining a back injury. The 36-year-old actress is starring as comedienne Fanny Brice in a Broadway revival of the classic musical but had to pull out of the show on Friday (11.11.22) just two hours before curtain up and promised she will be back tomorrow. She tweeted: “Hey everyone. Unfortunately, I will be out of Funny Girl tonight. I hurt my back and my doctor is requiring me to rest tonight or else I would be there. I will be back tomorrow. Love to all.” The former ‘Glee’ star was temporarily replaced in the role – which was made famous by Barbra Streisand in the 1964 film – by understudy Julie Benko and the official team behind the production released a statement of support for their leading lady as she recovered. The statement read: “Sending all of our healing wishes to Lea Michele, who will be out of tonight’s performance. The amazing Julie Benko (@jujubee) will be on as Fanny”(sic) Lea – who played ambitious wannabe Broadway star Rachel Berry on the hit Fox TV series – recently explained that she is “having the time of her life” starring in the musical that features standards such as ‘Don’t Rain on My Parade’ and ‘I’m the Greatest Star.’ She said: “I’m loving living in the bubble that is the safe home and space of this theater and this cast. If I did not know and feel the support that I have from everyone, this would be very scary for me. I’m literally having the time of my life.” View the full article

Published by OK Magazine mega The rumors about Pete Davidson seem to be true — with him finally confirming what many have believed about him for years now. According to Jay Pharoah, the comedian revealed that he is in fact packing beneath his pants, which has allowed him so much success when it comes to his dating life. mega “Hey, man, it’s Pete. There’s something in the sauce. He got something, OK. He got something inside,” Pharoah said on SiriusXM’s “The Jess Cagle Show” on Thursday, November 10. “So I talk to him, I said, ‘Pete, man, what is it?’ I said … ‘What is it. What’d you do? What was it? How you do it?'” MARTHA STEWART ADMITS ROMANTIC INTEREST IN PETE DAVIDSON: ‘HE KNOWS HOW TO GET IN & GET OUT’ Pharoah, a famed impressionist, then revealed that The King of Staten Island star, 28, credited his manhood for his success. “He told me what it was. It’s his endowment. That’s what he told me it is,” the 35-year-old shared, before joking, “He was like, ‘Yeah, bro, it’s like nine inches.’ I was like, ‘What? Word. Oh snap, we twins. That’s crazy.'” And while Davidson is known for being impressive in one category, Pharoah credited the funnyman’s vulnerability and personality with the overall success he has in his personal life. “You gotta have everything in the relationship, and that’s the thin line. … Pete is just a sweet dude,” Pharoah pointed out. “He’s sweet. He’s vulnerable.” Davidson has famously dated Kate Beckinsale and was even engaged to Ariana Grande — with his most recent flame being Kim Kardashian. mega And while Davidson may have his pick of women, that doesn’t mean everything in his life is smooth sailing. OK! reported Davidson had to take a break from filming his upcoming project, Bupkis, because he had a “major meltdown” on set. After a brief break from work to “get his s**t together and focus on himself,” said a source, he was set to return to filming earlier this month. Meanwhile, the Saturday Night Live alum may also be reeling from his summer split with The Kardashians star, with whom he has been in close contact with despite going their separate ways. LONG DISTANCE DRAMA TO RUMORS OF RECONCILIATION: INSIDE PETE DAVIDSON & KIM KARDASHIAN’S DECISION TO CALL IT QUITS Though the former flames “still talk a lot,” a reconciliation isn’t in the cards — at least on Kardashian’s end. “He’s holding in there and tells her that he would jump on a plane at a moment’s notice for her,” said a source, but the reality star knows there is no chance they’ll rekindle their romance. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Luke Evans’ “first love” is music. The 43-year-old star may be best known for his acting career but he’s loved singing all his life. He said: “As a kid, I was happiest when I was singing or entertaining. “My dad had lots of records from the 1960s and 70s, so I was listening to the Drifters, Petula Clark, The Beatles, David Bowie, and the Bay City Rollers. “I remember us all singing ‘Downtown’ by Petula Clark in the car. “When I was 11 or 12, I bought my first album in Woolworths – it was Roberta Flack and the first song was ‘The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.’ “That’s when I realised singing connected me emotionally to who I was.” But Luke didn’t expect to make a career in entertainment because of his humble upbringing in Wales. He laughed: “Not in the Valleys! We only knew of tom Jones and Shirley Bassey, so that’s not a good ration of Welsh people. “Singing was never more than a hobby growing up. My dad is a builder. My mum was a cleaner and housewife. “My family have worked in the mines and in factories. “No one had ever done anything like it before. I don’t really know how I did it with that kind of working-class upbringing.” The ‘Nine Perfect Strangers’ actor’s childhood friend, Charlotte Church, is among the stars he has sang with on his new album xx and he admitted it was “lovely” for them to finally work together. He told Red magazine: “I used to save my money and spend £15 a week to go to my singing lessons. “Little did I know what the girl who used to leave just as I was entering was a young Charlotte Church. “We’ve seen each other grow up and been through a lot together but we’ve never recorded a track together. “It was lovely being able to do that.” View the full article

Published by DPA Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (L) meets with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit. Mick Tsikas/AAP/dpa Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba praised South-East Asian leaders on Saturday for delivering a message of “political support” to Kiev, and said Russia was playing “hunger games” with the world over a Black Sea grain deal. Speaking to reporters at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Phnom Penh, Kuleba described atrocities committed by the Russian armed forces and criticized Russia’s approach to the grain deal, which was brokered by the UN in July and is set to expire on November 19. “I call on all ASEAN members to take every method possible to stop Russia from playing hunger games with the world,” Kuleba said. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is among those attending the ASEAN summit, yet Kuleba said Lavrov had not requested a meeting with him. “There is not a single indicator that Russia is sincerely seeking negotiations,” Kuleba said. Kuleba also addressed the largely symbolic peace treaty Ukraine signed with South-East Asian nations on Thursday. “We are glad that it is during Cambodian chairmanship that the signing became reality and consensus was secured,” Kuleba said. “We take it as a message of political support by ASEAN countries to Ukraine.” The Treaty on Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia commits signatories to “mutual respect for the independence, sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity and national identity of all nations.” Kuleba, whose visit marks the first time Ukraine has attended the annual ASEAN summit, said: “We will explore and utilize all opportunities for building a deeper relationship with ASEAN countries.” ASEAN is a union of 10 South-East Asian countries which promotes diplomatic cooperation on economic, political and security issues. The union has an estimated total population of about 668 million. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (R) meets with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit. Mick Tsikas/AAP/dpa Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (L) meets with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit. Mick Tsikas/AAP/dpa View the full article

Published by OK Magazine mega It’s been revealed that the housekeeper who discovered Aaron Carter‘s lifeless body last weekend was a homeless woman he had taken in to help him with odd jobs around the property. Carter is believed to have hired her following an incident that occurred last month while he was out of town. mega The late pop star and his on-again, off-again fiancée Melanie Martin had taken a trip to Orange County to visit their son, Prince, 11 months, who currently lives with Martin’s mother. NICK CARTER BREAKS SILENCE ON HIS BROTHER AARON’S UNTIMELY DEATH: ‘MY HEART HAS BEEN BROKEN’ However, when they returned, the front door of Carter’s Lancaster home had been left open and cigarette butts that did not belong to the couple were left at the scene, indicating a possible break-in. mega Following the unnerving incident, sources claimed several of Carter and Martin’s friends had encouraged them to have someone house-sit for them whenever they were away, leading the “I Want Candy” singer to be reminded of a homeless woman that he knew from church. AARON CARTER ‘STARTED TO SPIRAL’ AFTER SISTER & FATHER DIED SUDDENLY, LATE SINGER ‘NEVER DEALT WITH’ THE TRAUMA: SOURCE The 34-year-old then offered the woman a free place to live in exchange for watching the lavish home when they were out of town, as well as doing several chores around the house. @aaroncarter/Instagram As OK! previously reported, only weeks later, the housekeeper found Carter dead in his bathtub on the morning of Saturday, November 5. She frantically called 911 to request emergency services, but it was too late to revive him. Law enforcement later revealed they found pills and cans of compressed air near his body. “We are extremely saddened and shocked to confirm the passing of Aaron Carter today,” his rep said in a statement later that afternoon. “At the moment his cause of death is being investigated. We ask that you give the family time and they will have more information when available. We cannot express the outpouring of love coming in.” TMZ was first to report the housekeeper had been a homeless woman Carter knew. View the full article

Published by AFP Mehran Karimi Nasseri, pictured at Charles de Gaulle airport in 2004 Bobigny (France) (AFP) – An Iranian who got stuck for 18 years in a Paris airport, inspiring a Steven Spielberg movie starring Tom Hanks died on Saturday at the terminal, an airport official said. Mehran Karimi Nasseri died of natural causes just before midday on Saturday in terminal 2F at Charles de Gaulle airport outside the French capital, the official told AFP. Caught originally in an immigration trap — unable to enter France and with nowhere to go — he became dependent on his unusual place of abode and increasingly a national and international cause celebre. He called himself “Sir Alfred”, and a small section of airport parquet and plastic bench became his domain. Karimi Nasseri’s peculiar story came to the attention of Hollywood director Spielberg, inspiring 2004 film “The Terminal,” which starred Hanks and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Hanks played a man who becomes trapped at New York’s JFK airport when his home country collapses into revolution. After spending most of the money he received for the film, Karimi Nasseri returned to the airport a few weeks ago, the official said. Several thousand euros (dollars) were found on him. Born in 1945 in Masjed Soleiman, in the Iranian province of Khuzestan, Karimi Nasseri, took up residence in the airport in November 1988 after flying from Iran to London, Berlin and Amsterdam in an effort to locate his mother. He had been expelled from every other country he landed in because he was unable to produce the correct paperwork. At Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport an informal support network grew up around him, providing food and medical help along with books and a radio. In 1999 he was granted refugee status and the right to remain in France. “I’m not quite sure what I want to do, stay at Roissy or leave,” he said after being handed the right to live in France. “I have papers, I can stay here, I think I should carefully study all the options before making a decision.” He didn’t leave then. “He no longer wants to leave the airport,” his lawyer Christian Bourguet said at the time. “He’s scared of going.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Brooke Shields regrets telling the world she was a virgin. The 57-year-old model revealed in a 1985 book when she was 20 that she had not yet had sexual intercourse and became the “most famous virgin in the world” but wished she hadn’t said anything because the comment “never left her alone.” She said: “In it, there was one part of a chapter where I discuss—not abstinence per se—but owning your choice. I mean, I think it was, in hindsight, a bit of a mistake for me to be so open about my virginity because it never left me alone. I would get a lot of fan mail from kids saying, “Oh, my boyfriend’s pressuring me, and I don’t want to have sex. What do I do?’ My narrative was, ‘You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to.” However, the ‘Blue Lagoon’ actress- who has daughters Rowan, 19, and Grier, 16, with husband Chris Henchy and was previously married to tennis player Andre Agassi – went on to explain that the media attention she received on the back of the comment gave her an air of “resilience” which set her up for a life in such a “difficult” industry. Speaking on her ‘Now What? with Brooke Shields’ podcast, she added: “I became the most famous virgin in the world. To be in the line of fire at such a young age in that way, I gained a resilience, and it set me up to be ready for anything in this industry, which can be difficult!” View the full article

Published by Reuters BORODYANKA, Ukraine (Reuters) – Renowned graffiti artist Banksy unveiled a work in the Ukrainian town of Borodyanka, which had been occupied by Russia until April and heavily damaged by fighting in the early days of Moscow’s invasion of its neighbour. Banksy posted a photo of the mural – a girl gymnast performing a handstand on a small pile of concrete rubble – on Instagram late on Friday. The work was painted onto the wall of a building destroyed by shelling. At least one other piece of new graffiti in Banksy’s signature style, although not posted by the mercurial artist on social media, was spotted in Borodyanka, portraying a man being flipped in judo by a much smaller child. The symbolism of that piece was unmistakeable: an allusion to the biblical story of David and Goliath, the unlikely triumph of the underdog, as well as a nod to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s much-publicised love of the Japanese martial art. Several curious onlookers came to see the artwork, some of whom had made the 60 km drive from Ukraine’s capital city, Kyiv. “This is such a historic moment for our country, that people like Banksy and other famous figures are coming here and showing the world what Russia has done to us,” said one of the visiting Kyivans, 31-year-old Alina Mazur. (Reporting by Gleb Garanich, Writing by Max Hunder; Editing by Ros Russell) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Jack Harlow finds confidence “sexy.” The 24-year-old rapper – who is currently thought to be single but was previously linked to fellow rapper Saweetie and reportedly dated TikTok star Addison Rae – explained that “intelligence” and being sure of oneself are two of the attributes he finds most attractive in a woman. He said: “Sexy is just a magnetic pull. Awareness is sexy. I find confidence and intelligence most sexy in a woman.” Meanwhile, the ‘Whats Poppin’ hitmaker recently visited his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky and celebrated his return by taking his childhood friends out for dinner before explaining that he is becoming more aware of what makes him truly “happy” in life. He told PEOPLE: “I won’t cut back on spending hours and hours with my childhood friends in my Kentucky home or taking those same friends out to eat. Last week I was home and we went to a new restaurant we’ve never been to every night. Hard to say why it makes me happy. I like sharing my unique access and privilege with them — it’s more fun to experience this life together than by myself. “It’s rare I get to experience [an early morning]. I stay up late and sleep in a lot. But I love the peace of the morning and the feeling of having a whole day in front of me. Being awake before other people is exciting to me. I feel like I am under fewer and fewer illusions about what makes me happy. I really know what I want and I’m as disciplined as ever.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Adele will reportedly be using technology worth £400,000 to protect her voice during her Las Vegas residency. The 34-year-old superstar – who postponed her ‘Weekends with Adele’ at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in January just 24 hours before the opening night and claimed COVID-19 had rendered her show impossible to put on – is set to finally take to this stage this Friday (18.11.22) for a concert series lasting three months, with the Sin City venue having installed a “complex” system which will guarantee her the “best possible air” while she sings. A source told The Mirror: “They’ve had complex systems installed before, but this one really is on another level. The system works by combining dehumidifiers, purification units, water molecule dispersal and cooling fans in the preparation room and then guiding that air around the stage when she performs. Adele is getting the best possible air to protect her voice.” The news comes just hours after it was claimed that the GRAMMY Award-winning songstress – who had to undergo surgery on her vocal cords in 2011 after suffering a hemorrhage on them – is “more than ready” to take to the stage and has been rehearsing for “more than 12 hours” per day. A source said: “Adele cannot wait for her residency to kick off, she’s more than ready. She’s put her heart and soul into preparing, she’s been rehearsing 12 hours a day and every little thing is in place and perfected. At this point it’s just a feeling of wanting it to hurry up and be opening night because now that everything’s ready the waiting is tough, it’s like the countdown to Christmas morning or something. Opening night is going to be an epic celebration, she’s going to have all her loved ones there!” View the full article

Published by Reuters By Jonathan Landay KLAPAYA, Ukraine (Reuters) – Villagers holding flowers waited on the road to the southern city of Kherson to greet and kiss Ukrainian soldiers on Saturday as they poured in to secure control of the right bank of the Dnipro River after a stunning Russian retreat. Volleys of incoming and outgoing artillery fire continued to blast around Kherson’s international airport and the police said they were setting up checkpoints in and around the city and sweeping for mines left behind by the Russians. The mayor said the humanitarian situation was “severe” because of a lack of water, medicine and bread in the city where residents celebrated their liberation in what President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called a “historic day” on Friday. In the hamlet of Klapaya, about 10 km from Kherson’s center, Nataliya Porkhunuk, 66, and Valentyna Buhailova, 61, stood on the verge of a rutted track holding bunches of freshly-picked flowers, smiling, and waving at passing vehicles carrying Ukrainian troops. “We’ve become 20 years younger in the last two days,” Buhailova said, just before a Ukrainian soldier jumped out of a small truck and hugged the pair. Outside the village of Chornobayivka, close to Kherson, a Reuters reporter saw incoming Russian fire that looked like a cluster munitions strike at the nearby airport. A volley of outgoing fire followed from the Ukrainian side shortly after. Reuters reporters were turned back by soldiers near Kherson’s outskirts and told it was too dangerous to go further. One officer was wounded while demining one of Kherson’s administrative buildings, the police said. “The city has a critical shortage, mainly of water,” Mayor Roman Holovnia told television. “There is currently not enough medicine, not enough bread because it can’t be baked: there is no electricity.” THE ROAD TO KHERSON The road to Kherson from Mykolaiv was lined by fields containing miles of abandoned Russian trenches. A destroyed T72 tank lay with its turret tossed upside down. The abandoned trenches were littered with refuse, blankets and camouflage netting. An irrigation ditch was filled with discarded Russian gear and several anti-tank mines were visible on the side of road. In the hamlet of Klapaya, Porkhunuk recounted that for most of the past nine months, the village was occupied by pro-Moscow Ukrainian troops from the Russia-occupied region of Donetsk “who said they would not hurt us, and we should stay in our houses”. But for two weeks, Russian soldiers took over Klapaya and told villagers they were there to search for “Nazis, and Banderites, and American biolabs,” she said, adding she had replied: “If you want to look for them, look elsewhere and go home.” Russians troops also warned that, “If we find that you are hiding any Ukrainian soldiers, we will level your home and the village,” she continued. She said the invaders also looted homes whose residents had fled. Moscow describes its actions in Ukraine as a “special military operation”. It has made claims about dangerous far-right groups in Ukraine and unproven allegations Ukraine hosted U.S.-run bioweapons facilities. Kyiv and its allies say Russia’s invasion, which has killed tens of thousands and uprooted millions, was unprovoked and illegal. In the nearby village of Kiselivka, a gaggle of teenagers stood on a dust-strewn corner with a sign made out of a cupboard door on which they had painted “Kherson” and an arrow pointing to a detour around a destroyed bridge on the main highway from Mykolaiv. “We are here because we wanted to help in some way. So, a few hours ago, we made the sign,” said Artem, 17. Villagers said the Russians left on Wednesday night. “They didn’t fire any shots,” recounted Hyhory Kulyaka, 54, who drove up on a scooter. “They were just gone.” (Reporting by Jonathan Landay; Writing by Tom Balmforth; Editing by Christina Fincher) View the full article