Jonathan Majors' ex suing for assault, defamation; actor's attorneys "preparing counterclaims"
Jonathan Majors' ex-girlfriend Grace Jabbari on Tuesday filed a lawsuit against the former Marvel star for alleged assault, battery and defamation from incidents dating between 2021 and 2023.
Majors was found guilty of one count of misdemeanor third-degree assault and one count of second-degree harassment in connection with a March 2023 altercation with his then-girlfriend, Jabbari, in a for-hire SUV in New York City. He was acquitted of two other counts of assault and aggravated harassment.
Marvel Studios severed ties with the Loki actor, who was supposed to play a major role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe going forward.
The new suit, filed in the Southern District of New York, accuses Majors of making "knowingly false statements" about Jabbari during an interview with ABC News in January following his conviction, in which he said he did not hit her in the vehicle or cause any injuries.
"Put bluntly, Majors's defense to Grace's descriptions of the numerous acts of violence Majors perpetrated against her was to brazenly defame her and label her a liar on all claims," the complaint stated, citing what it called "false and defamatory statements" that were "broadcast around the world."
Jabbari is seeking damages for physical injuries she said she suffered as a result of the incident. She also claimed Majors committed "intentional infliction of emotional distress" against her, according to the civil complaint.
Jabbari's attorney, Brittany Henderson, said in part, "It takes true bravery to hold someone with this level of power and acclaim accountable. ... We strongly believe that through this action, truth and transparency will bring Grace the justice that she deserves."
For his part, Majors' attorneys responded to the filing saying, "This is no surprise. Mr. Majors is preparing counterclaims against Ms. Jabbari."
Source-ABC
Police investigates aggrivated burglary
The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands can confirm that investigations are taking place into several incidents on Providenciales.
Shortly after midnight today (March 15), a male victim reported he was robbed of his vehicle and personal belongings by two males in the area of Kew Town while in a separate incident after 1 am, reports state a couple had returned to their Blue Hills home and were robbed by four armed males.
Superintendent in charge of Crime, Safeguarding and Public Protection Dean Holden said detectives have actively investigated reported firearms-related incidents within the past 48 hours.
“ We understand the seriousness of the situation and assure the community that we are working diligently to ensure their safety and bring those responsible to justice. Preliminary reports indicate that around 9:03 pm last evening (March 14), a call was placed to the Police Control Room indicating two armed, masked men had robbed a couple of personal belongings and a white Daihatsu vehicle. This incident occurred in the Bight.
“At 9.21 pm yesterday (March 14), police officers were notified that three armed men robbed a food establishment along Leeward Highway. The third incident occurred on March 13th. Two armed men robbed a restaurant located along Airport Road around 9:38 pm.
“Thankfully, no one was injured during these incidents, but the suspects managed to flee the scene before officers arrived. We urge anyone with information regarding these crimes to come forward and assist us in apprehending the suspects by utilizing the following options”.
Notify the closest police station, contact 911, the Serious Crime Unit at 231-1842, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-8477, and anonymously give any information on illegal activity.
Additionally, persons are encouraged to download the CrimeStoppers P3 app and share information anonymously.
Haiti’s Grammy Award singer wants “armed men” to be part of talks to end crisis
Haiti’s international music star, Wyclef Jean, has called on national and international actors to allow rebel gunmen to be part of negotiations aimed at finding a solution to the Caribbean country’s unprecedented political gridlock.
The United States Thursday said that it backed the position outlined by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) grouping following the high-level meeting on Haiti in Jamaica on Monday and wanted “to see an interim prime minister appointed as soon as possible”.
In an interview with the Port au Prince-based Haitian-Caribbean News Network, a partner of the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC), Jean, said the gunmen, who have had a high profile in the French-speaking CARICOM country in recent months, should be included in the current political negotiations, in the prospect of solving the security crisis.
“Whether people like it or not, I am saying the men of arms should be part of the overhaul negotiations, and It’s very important!”, Jean, the Grammy Award singer said, urging all stakeholders to join in facilitating the return of peace and security to Haiti.
“All should be on the table because this is not a dictatorship. I’d never support any form of dictatorship or any form of a radical one person taking over Haiti; never and never,” Jean said, warning stakeholders against further deterioration of the security situation.
He said the necessary steps should be taken urgently to pave the way towards making significant progress.
Among those whom he believes should have a say in the future of the island, Jean cites the former rebel leader Guy Philippe, political party leader Claude Joseph, Jean-Charles Moise from the ‘Pitit Desalin’ party as well as representatives of the so-called Montana group.
Jean said that for the United States to take Haitians seriously, they have to form a united front now.
“ I ask you to put your differences on the side. Everybody has to be included as part of the future of what’s going on,” Jean said, adding he could understand the frustration of the people with the guns because those guns were given to them to carry out massacres in the country.
“But they would wake up one day and say ‘Gosh the same forces that are telling us to do this, they are not the right forces’. And they are now up against them and they said we are going to topple them through extreme measures.
“But when I look at the situation, “and I go back to Nelson Mandela, I always feel that dialogue is the best situation right now.”
He said in understanding the situation “from a level of being one of those guys that used to be in those poor and populous neighborhoods, that was an advocate for peace, and that even helped negotiate a truce in certain parts of the country, when it was needed at a time.”
Jean, who is among the most popular Haitians internationally, said he maintains his Haitian passport despite his success. He is particularly admired in his homeland.
Media reports said that he had played a significant role in getting a hostage freed without having to pay a ransom because he was able to speak by phone to the abductors.
Meanwhile, the United States said that following Monday’s meeting in Jamaica, where it was announced that Prime Minister Dr. Ariel Henry, who has been stranded in Puerto Rico since last week, had decided he would be stepping down, several stakeholders “are willing to make and willing to make compromises to try to restore stability and set the path to free and fair elections.
“And we think that’s appropriate and think that it’s something that all political figures in Haiti should do to try to move past the current crisis,” said US State Department spokesman, Mathew Miller.
He told reporters that it would be a “mistake” to concentrate on what Washington would be doing to bring peace and security to Haiti, insisting “ultimately this is a matter for the Haitian people to decide, and the Haitian people and Haitian leaders need to be front and center in making decisions about their country.
“What we will do is work with Haitian leaders and work with CARICOM leaders and work with our other international partners to do everything we can to offer support for Haitians in making those concessions and trying to get on the path to democracy”.
He said separately but equally, Washington will support the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support Mission “because it is critical to restoring security on the ground, and without security it’s going to be very hard, if not impossible, to hold free and fair elections”.
Source- CMC
Scores from College Hoops, NBA & more
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
INTERLEAGUE
Philadelphia 6, Boston 1
Tampa Bay 3, Atlanta 1
Baltimore 5, Pittsburgh 2
Seattle 4, Milwaukee 2
Chi Cubs 3, Oakland 1
Cleveland 13, Colorado 7
Kansas City 6, Arizona 0
Washington 5, Houston 3
Texas 7, Cincinnati 4
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Toronto 5, Minnesota 1
Detroit 7, NY Yankees 0
Chi White Sox 5, LA Angels 1
NATIONAL LEAGUE
NY Mets 0, St. Louis 0
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Boston 127, Phoenix 112
LA Clippers 126, Chicago 111
Houston 135, Washington 119
Milwaukee 114, Philadelphia 105
New York 105, Portland 93
Oklahoma City 126, Dallas 119
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Buffalo 4, NY Islanders 0
Boston 2, Montreal 1 (OT)
Arizona 4, Detroit 1
Carolina 4, Florida 0
Pittsburgh 6, San Jose 3
Tampa Bay 6, NY Rangers 3
Ottawa 3, Columbus 2 (SO)
Toronto 6, Philadelphia 2
Minnesota 2, Anaheim 0
New Jersey 6, Dallas 2
Calgary 4, Vegas 1
Washington 2, Seattle 1
TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Houston 60, TCU 45
UConn 87, Xavier 60
North Carolina 92, Florida St. 67
Arizona 70, Southern Cal 49
Iowa St. 76, Kansas St. 57
Providence 78, Creighton 73
Marquette 71, Villanova 65
NC State 74, Duke 69
Baylor 68, Cincinnati 56
South Carolina 80, Arkansas 66
Utah St. 87, Fresno St. 75
Texas Tech 81, BYU 67
Washington St. 79, Stanford 62
Colorado St. 85, Nevada 78
Duquesne 65, Dayton 57
96th annual Academy Awards, by the numbers
The 96th annual Academy Awards, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, aired live from the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, March 10. Oppenheimer was the big winner, taking home seven awards, including Best Picture. Best Actor and Supporting honors went to Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey Jr., respectively, for their roles in the film. Christopher Nolan also won for Best Director.
Emma Stone walked off with Best Actress honors for her role in Poor Things, and Da'Vine Joy Randolph won the Best Supporting Actress trophy for her role in The Holdovers.
Here are the winners from Sunday night's broadcast:
Best Picture
Oppenheimer
Actor in a Leading Role
Cillian Murphy, Oppenheimer
Actress in a Leading Role
Emma Stone, Poor Things
Actor in a Supporting Role
Robert Downey Jr., Oppenheimer
Actress in a Supporting Role
Da'Vine Joy Randolph, The Holdovers
Directing
Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer
Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
American Fiction
Writing (Original Screenplay)
Anatomy of a Fall
Animated Feature Film
The Boy and the Heron
Best Anmated Short
THE WAR IS OVER! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko
Short Film (Live Action)
The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar
Documentary (Feature)
20 Days in Mariupol
Documentary (Short Subject)
The Last Repair Shop
International Feature Film
The Zone of Interest, UK
Film Editing
Oppenheimer
Cinematography
Oppenheimer
Sound
The Zone of Interest
Music (Original Score)
Oppenheimer
Music (Original Song)
"What Was I Made For?," Barbie
Costume Design
Poor Things
Makeup and Hairstyling
Poor Things
Production Design
Poor Things
Visual Effects
Godzilla Minus One
Following the 96th annual Academy Awards on Sunday, March 10, the financial wonks at WalletHub dived into the numbers behind Hollywood's biggest night.
For example, according to the site, the ceremony will reportedly cost $56.9 million.
Thirty-three percent of this year's nominees are women, the site's analysts say, noting that's the highest percentage in three years. And speaking of the fairer sex, considering the outfit and jewelry, your average A-list actress's getup is worth $10 million.
At $18.1 million, Oscar winner Cate Blanchett's 2014 gown was the most expensive in history, though Lady Gaga's Tiffany diamond necklace from the 2019 ceremony was the most expensive piece of bling, at $30 million.
The average female nominee's outfit costs $1.5 million, but for a first-timer, the average is $266,000, WalletHub says.
The 50,000-square-foot red carpet on which the celebs will stride takes 18 rolls to complete and costs $24,700. It takes 18 workers 600 hours to roll out.
A Best Actress or Actor winner can see a 20% boost in pay for their next job, which is handy because a pair of tickets to the Vanity Fair Oscar party reportedly cost $100,000.
Considering all the green that goes into the big show, it might not come as a surprise that the City of Los Angeles sees a $170 million economic boost from the Oscars, according to WalletHub.
Methodology and results have not been verified or endorsed by ABC News or The Walt Disney Company.
Source-ABC
Why does the US want to ban TikTok?
US politicians are debating new legislation that would ban TikTok in the US unless its Chinese owners sell the company.
The video-sharing app has millions of users around the world but is facing questions over the security of users' data, and its links to the government in Beijing.
Politicians from both major US parties have introduced a new bill that would ban TikTok unless owner ByteDance agrees to sell the app to a non-Chinese company.
The lawmakers fear that the Chinese government could use security laws to force ByteDance to hand over data about TikTok's 170 million US users.
TikTok insists it would not provide foreign user data to the Chinese government.
The US House of Representatives passed the bill on 13 March, with 352 voting in favor of the proposed law and 65 against.
It now moves to the Senate, where it is likely to face rigorous scrutiny. It is not clear whether a majority of senators will approve the bill.
US President Joe Biden says he will sign the bill into law if it is approved by the Senate.
This is the latest attempt by the American authorities to curb TikTok.
Former US President Donald Trump tried to ban the app when he was in the White House in 2020.
But Mr Trump - now confirmed as the Republican candidate for the 2024 presidential election - has criticized the new legislation, arguing that limiting TikTok would unfairly benefit Facebook.
The bill still has some way to go before it becomes law.
But if it passes the Senate and is signed into law by President Biden, ByteDance would have six months to sell TikTok before any ban would take effect.
The most straightforward way for the US to ban TikTok would be to remove it from app stores, such as those operated by Apple and Google for iOS and Android devices.
App stores are how most people download apps onto their smartphones and tablets, so the ban would stop new users from getting TikTok.
The bill also forbids "foreign adversary-controlled applications" from being updated and maintained in the US.
That means people who already had the app would no longer be able to get future updates designed to improve security or fix bugs.
TikTok has been highly critical of the legislation.
Chief executive Shou Zi Chew warned the bill would give "more power to a handful of other social media companies", and put thousands of American jobs at risk.
Some US creators and users have also criticized the proposed ban.
TikTok asked its 170 million US users to contact their political representatives and ask them not to support the bill.
But the deluge of "confused" calls from TikTok users to congressmen and senators may have backfired.
Several politicians say the campaign has worsened the concerns they have about the app, and strengthened their resolve to pass the legislation.
If the bill becomes US law, it could inspire similar moves elsewhere.
TikTok is already banned in India, which was one of the app's largest markets before it was outlawed in June 2020.
It is also blocked in Iran, Nepal, Afghanistan and Somalia.
Vigilance in the Sale of Fuel
In response to the critical issue of illegal migration, The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force urges fuel suppliers to play a crucial role in disrupting illicit activities by recording (use of CCTV) information from sales of excessive quantities of fuel or declining sales to individuals.
This strategic move aligns with stopping illegal border crossings into the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The RTCIPF views fuel suppliers as critical stakeholders in the fight against illegal migration.
Large gasoline purchases can often indicate attempts to transport individuals across borders unlawfully. Therefore, we ask suppliers to exercise vigilance and discretion in their sales practices.
This call to action underscores the shared responsibility of all sectors of society to address the multifaceted challenges of illegal migration by working collaboratively with the law.
Together, we can send a powerful message that illegal migration will not be tolerated, condoned and accepted within the beautiful by nature TCI.
Superintendent (Divisions and Community Policing) Dwight Gardiner said: “Collaboration with gas stations aligns with community policing principles, fostering trust and cooperation between law enforcement agencies and businesses. It demonstrates a commitment to shared responsibility
in maintaining public safety and upholding legal immigration channels.
“Ultimately, this proactive approach underscores law enforcement's commitment to safeguarding communities from the risks of illegal migration. By leveraging partnerships and innovative strategies, the RTCIPF can mitigate vulnerabilities and uphold the integrity of immigration laws.”
The RTCIPF asks the public to notify the closest police station, call 911, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-8477, and anonymously give any information on excessive fuel purchases and illegal activity.
Additionally, persons are encouraged to download the CrimeStoppers P3 app and share information anonymously.
SURINAME Government agrees to provide subsidy to majority of population
The Suriname government says it will provide a subsidy to electricity consumers with a consumption of up to 900 kWh per month even as it plans to increase electricity prices by 61 percent as part of the measure aimed at reducing the annual SRD4.5 billion (One SRD=US$0.02 cents) in subsidies to the sector.
In a statement issued by the official Communications Services Suriname (CDS) following what has been described as “intensive discussions and efforts to implement reforms that are beneficial to society,” the government has decided that households with a consumption of up to 900 kWh per month will be supported with a subsidy of up to SRD400 until June.
“This means that a large majority of consumers, namely 95 percent, are entitled to this subsidy,” the CDS said.
Last week, the government announced it was moving to reduce the annual SRD4.5 billion it pays in electricity rates, and that it intended to reduce that figure to SRD 2.4 billion this year.
It said that the increase will occur in phases, with the first phase, which began on March 6, will result in consumers paying an average of 40 percent more, while in two months, an additional seven percent will be added.
“From March 6, the energy tariff for households will be increased by an average of 40 percent,” said Economic Affairs, Entrepreneurship and Technical Innovation, Social Affairs and Housing, Natural Resources, David Abiamofo.
He said that the new rates will also be based on the exchange rate that the Central Bank quotes for the US dollar, instead of the fixed SRD 30 per US dollar that was used until recently.
The government has said that phasing out the subsidy is necessary, indicating that it has been a difficult choice, but that this will probably be one of the last painful measures.
Observers note that by phasing out the subsidy, the government is meeting one of the conditions set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for providing financial assistance to Suriname.
According to the latest CDS statement, the government’s policy is to transform subsidies, but at the same time support vulnerable groups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
SMEs that suffer losses due to the abolition of the electricity subsidy are eligible for tax benefits, while social organizations can apply for support through the Energy Authority of Suriname (EAS).
“The government must ensure the well-being of society during the transition period,” the CDS said, adding that an extensive media campaign will be launched to inform citizens about the measures and encourage them to embrace energy efficiency and switch to renewable energy where possible.
“We will closely monitor the implementation of these measures and make adjustments as necessary to ensure no one is left behind during this transition period,” the CDS added.
Source- CMC
Judge denies one of Trump’s motions to dismiss documents case
A U.S. district judge denied former President Donald Trump's motion to dismiss his federal classified documents case based on unconstitutional vagueness, one of the two motions -- the other being his protection under the Presidential Records Act -- that his lawyers used to argue dismissing the case.
In her ruling on the unconstitutional vagueness motion, Judge Aileen Cannon said that while Trump's argument warranted "serious consideration," she did not want to "prematurely decide" the issues raised by Trump's lawyers related to the Espionage Act.
Cannon dismissed the arguments without prejudice, meaning defense lawyers could raise the argument again later in the case.
She has not yet issued a ruling on Trump’s other motion to dismiss that lawyers also argued during today’s hearing.
Source-ABC
Tesla Model 2 set for production next year
Tesla’s long-awaited entry-level electric car is finally set to enter production next year, giving the firm a foothold in the increasingly competitive sub-£25k sector.
The ‘Model 2’, as it is known, has been on the cards for years. Tesla CEO Elon Musk confirmed development was underway as long ago as 2020, but it was not until late last year that the first details began to trickle out and the firm announced plans to start building it in 2025.
Being developed under the codename ‘Project Redwood’, the secretive new model has a crucial role to play in helping Tesla defend its hard-won position among the world’s leading electric car manufacturers, having been knocked off the top spot in the final quarter of 2023 by BYD.
Giving shareholders a forecast for the performance of its future product portfolio last year, Tesla boldly claimed that it could sell an astonishing 700 million Model 2s over its lifetime.
Nevertheless, the Model 2’s arrival will shake up a segment of affordability-focused compact electric family cars that is expanding in number and diversity as manufacturers take advantage of reduced EV production costs and seek to drive EV uptake with cheaper models.
Crucial to Tesla’s viability in this context is a radical new production process that, the firm says, could save as much as 50% in build costs and speed up production times.
The ‘Unboxed’ process essentially revolves around reducing the amount of work done at each stage of the production line, avoiding any unnecessary movement or disassembly of the car or its components during its journey down the production line.
For example, the seats will be mounted directly to the underfloor battery pack, with the entire unit then raised into a bodyshell that has been painted in sections to avoid the need for door removal and reinstallation.
Next-generation powertrain and battery technology will be crucial to keeping costs down too. Tesla touts a 75% reduction in silicon carbide for its next batteries and the eradication of rare-earth metals in its new motors.
No powertrain details have been revealed for the Model 2, but it is likely to follow Tesla’s other models and be offered in single- and twin-motor forms, with the potential for high-performance versions to be introduced later on.
The Model 2’s platform is thought to be unrelated to that which underpins the larger Model 3 and Model Y, but it will be built using the same ultra-efficient gigacasting method, which breaks the structure into separate cast units to minimise the number of individual components and thereby its cost.
Initial production has been tipped for Tesla’s German factory near Berlin, a decision potentially made because any smaller new model would be inherently geared toward the European market. Avoiding the cost of importing it from Tesla’s sites in Texas, Mexico or Shanghai will be another factor.
Musk has not been firm on a launch timeline for the new car but recently said he is “optimistic” about building the first car late next year.
Tesla is said to already be in conversations with parts suppliers for the new car and has acknowledged that its volume growth is expected to slow this year “as our teams work on the launch of the next-generation vehicle”.
The Model 2 is understood to be Tesla’s primary engineering focus and commercially it is much more important – and urgent – than the likes of the Roadster and Cybertruck.
Source-Auto Car