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Review: A book for movie lovers with romance, mystery, drama

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:42:25 GMT

“Advika and the Hollywood Wives” by Kirthana Ramisetti (Grand Central)Evening. Interior. We open on an Oscars afterparty, where Advika Srinivasan is making drinks for half of Hollywood while barely holding on to a measured, service industry demeanor despite the belligerence and entitlement of the tipsy, trophy-toting guests. But the evening takes a wild turn when a handsome producer takes an interest in Advika, marking a complete shift in the 26-year-old’s life as she falls hard for the Oscar-winning — and much older — Julian Zelding. And, let’s face it, it doesn’t hurt that he has extensive Hollywood connections that might help Advika break into the industry to become a renowned Indian screenwriter. Almost before she knows it, Advika is married to Julian. When Julian’s first ex-wife dies shortly after, her will promises Advika $1 million if she divorces the man. Kirthana Ramisetti’s second novel, “Advika and the Hollywood Wives,” follows Advika as she sleuths to uncover every...

Family of Czech billionaire sues over Alaska crash death

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:42:25 GMT

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The family of a Czech billionaire who died in a heli-skiing crash in Alaska in 2021 says in a lawsuit that he survived the accident but succumbed to his injuries in the hours between the crash and when a rescue was launched.The lawsuit, filed in Alaska state court recently on behalf of the family of Petr Kellner, alleges negligence and seeks punitive and other damages. Kellner, at the time of his death, was the richest man in the Czech Republic. The lawsuit names as defendants Soloy Helicopters; Triumvirate LLC, which owns and operates Tordrillo Mountain Lodge; and Third Edge Alaska LLC, which was doing business as a heli-ski guide service but administratively dissolved last year.Five people died in the crash in the Chugach Mountains 21 miles (34 kilometers) southeast of Palmer in one of the deadliest heli-skiing aviation accidents in North America, the Anchorage Daily News reported. The sole survivor, Czech snowboarder David Horvath, is separately suing the...

Judge seeks to learn whether Trump will go to his rape trial

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:42:25 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — A federal judge wants to know if ex-President Donald Trump plans to attend a New York trial this month resulting from a columnist’s claims that he raped her in a department store dressing room in the 1990s.Judge Lewis A. Kaplan issued an order Monday directing parties in the case to notify him by April 20 whether they will be present throughout the trial, scheduled to start April 25 in Manhattan federal court.A writer, E. Jean Carroll, sued Trump in November, saying he raped her in early 1996 after a chance meeting at the Bergdorf Goodman department store. He has repeatedly and emphatically denied it in language sure to be highlighted for a jury that will decide whether the rape occurred and if Trump defamed Carroll with his comments.The rape claims were made immediately after a temporary state law took effect allowing adult rape victims to sue their abusers, even if attacks happened decades ago.Trump’s lawyers did not respond Monday to requests for comment on ...

U.S. ‘allies and partners’ briefed following revelations about intelligence leak: WH

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:42:25 GMT

WASHINGTON — The White House says it has been in touch with affected allies and partners at “very high levels” following the leak of sensitive U.S. intelligence about Russia’s war with Ukraine. That likely includes Canada: the leaked documents describe claims, which The Canadian Press has not independently verified, by Russian-backed hackers that they successfully accessed the country’s natural gas infrastructure.National Security Council spokesman John Kirby says the leak has been referred for criminal investigation, but can’t say if it has been fully contained. The documents, which appear altered in spots, include sensitive U.S. assessments of the ongoing war in Ukraine — as well as a warning about the risk of a cyberattack north of the border. The report doesn’t name a specific energy company, but says hackers were instructed by a Russian intelligence officer to maintain access to the computer network and “wait for further instruction....

Jury holds key to fate of $1 billion transmission project

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:42:25 GMT

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A battle over a $1 billion transmission line that won all regulatory approvals only to be rebuked by state residents in a referendum now comes down to nine regular folks.In a rare move, a jury is being asked to decide a complicated constitutional matter — whether developers have a vested right to complete the 145-mile (233-kilometer) project, which would supply Canadian hydropower to the New England power grid.The constitutionality of the statewide referendum on the project depends on the jury’s decision on the narrow vested-rights issue. And the case could turn on a simple majority of jurors.“We’re not aware of a similar instance in which the fate of a large energy asset rests in the hands of a jury. This is an unusual circumstance,” Timothy Fox, vice president of Clear View Partners, an energy research firm in Washington, D.C., said before the trial began Monday.The courtroom was packed Monday. Attorneys for groups opposed to the project and the state attorn...

Leaked documents a ‘very serious’ risk to security: Pentagon

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:42:25 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The online leaks of scores of highly classified documents about the Ukraine war present a “very serious” risk to national security, and senior leaders are quickly taking steps to mitigate the damage, a top Pentagon spokesman said Monday.Chris Meagher, assistant to the secretary of defense for public affairs, told reporters that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin first became aware on Thursday that a number of classified briefing slides detailing the U.S. military efforts in the Ukraine war and intelligence involving other nations were leaked. In the days since Austin was notified, he has reached out to allies, held daily meetings to assess damage and set up a group not only to assess the scope of the information lost but review who has access to those briefings. The department is looking closely at “how this type of information is distributed and to whom,” Meagher said, but would not say if steps had already been taken to tighten control over who can access it.At...

As content creators await the passing of Bill C-11, some say it’s still too ambiguous

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:42:25 GMT

OTTAWA — The Liberal government’s online streaming bill is likely weeks away from becoming law as it awaits a final vote in the Senate. But some content creators who will be impacted by the changes say the proposed law is still too ambiguous. Nathan Kennedy, a content creator from Hamilton, has made a career out of teaching people about personal finances online.The online streaming act will require big streaming companies — such as YouTube, Netflix and Spotify — to contribute to and promote Canadian content. Kennedy worries that new discoverability requirements will affect the way he makes money.He says if his videos don’t meet future CanCon standards, they could be de-prioritized by tech companies. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 10, 2023. The Canadian Press

Police: Bank employee killed 4 in Louisville shooting

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:42:25 GMT

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A 23-year-old used a rifle to kill four people — including a close friend of the governor — Monday at the Louisville bank where he was an employee, authorities said.The shooting, the 15th mass killing in the country this year, comes just two weeks after a former student killed three children and three adults at a Christian elementary school in Nashville, Tennessee, about 160 miles to the south. That state's governor and his wife also had friends killed in that shooting.Police in Louisville arrived as gunshots were still being fired inside Old National Bank and exchanged fire with the shooter, who died, Louisville Metro Police Department Deputy Chief Paul Humphrey said at a news conference. He said it wasn't clear whether the shooter killed himself or was shot by officers.“We believe this is a lone gunman involved in this that did have a connection to the bank. We’re trying to establish what that connection was to the business, but it appears he was a previous ...

White House bashes 'dangerous' ruling against Mifepristone approval

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:42:25 GMT

WASHINGTON (Nexstar) – On Friday, a Texas judge issued a ruling that halted FDA approval of an abortion drug nationwide. Now the White House says they're confident the unprecedented ruling will be defeated.“A single court in Texas has taken the dangerous steps,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean Pierre said.The White House says the FDA will not make any immediate changes to the availability of Mifepristone, the medication used for abortions up to 11 weeks in pregnancy.“The Department of Justice has already filed a notice of appeal,” said Jennifer Klein, director of the White House Gender Policy Council.The ruling put the future of the drug in jeopardy and while the administration is appealing, some Democrats say the FDA has the authority to ignore the ruling -- an idea Texas Congressman Tony Gonzalez rejects.“It's very dangerous when you have the administration coming and saying they may not uphold a ruling,” Rep Tony Gonzalez (R-TX) said.To complicate the issue, on Friday, a ...

'Aggressive' shark attack in Hawaii leaves surfer in serious condition

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:42:25 GMT

HONOLULU (KHON) -- A 58-year-old surfer in Honolulu was badly injured Sunday when a shark bit down on his leg. Honolulu Ocean Safety said the surfer's friends quickly made a tourniquet with their surfboard leashes to help him, potentially saving his life. He was taken to a local trauma center in "serious condition," according to paramedics. According to the Department of Land and Natural Resources, reports indicate it was an 8-foot tiger shark that caused the injuries. The surfers who helped the injured man reported the shark kept returning to the area as they administered aid, and said the animal was acting aggressively. Friends said the injured surfer was a regular at the Kewalos Basin area, where the shark attack happened. Conservation officers are assisting lifeguards in warning beachgoers of the apparent shark encounter. Hawaiians consider limiting access to tourist hotspots, prioritizing locals: ‘We need a break too’ Ocean Safety said a fisherman was also chased out of the a...