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Henry Cavill joining Amazon Prime Video’s ‘Warhammer 40,000’ franchise

After recently leaving his roles as DC’s ‘Superman’ and in Netflix’s ‘The Witcher,’ Henry Cavill is joining an adaptation of the popular tabletop game “Warhammer 40,000.” Cavill will star in and executive produce the franchise for Amazon Prime Video, which acquired the global rights to the IP from Games Workshop. The acquisition – the first of its kind for Amazon Studios – includes the “Warhammer 40,000” rights across film, TV and more.  A press release read: “‘Warhammer 40,000’ is set in the far future, where humanity stands at the edge of what might be its brightest future, or its darkest age. The threats to humankind’s empire are many — traitors driven by the fires of ambition, alien empires sworn to reclaim the stars, and the corruption of reality by malevolent gods.”

Cavill said in a statement: “I have loved ‘Warhammer’ since I was a boy, making this moment truly special for me. The opportunity to shepherd this cinematic universe from its inception is quite the honor and the responsibility.”

Jennifer Salke, head of Amazon and MGM Studios, added: “’Warhammer 40,000′ has captured the imagination of fans of all ages, from all walks of life, and all over the world. We are excited to work with Henry, Vertigo Entertainment, and Games Workshop across our Amazon entertainment businesses on this brilliant, immersive franchise for our global customers to experience for years to come.”

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Sia, Latto and SNL’s Chloe Fineman & Sarah Sherman added to lineup of ‘Miley’s New Year’s Eve Party’

The upcoming NBC special ‘Miley’s New Year’s Eve Party’ has added additional talent to its lineup. NBC confirmed Wednesday that co-hosts Miley Cyrus and Dolly Parton will be joined by singer-songwriter Fletcher, rapper Latto, Los Angeles rock band Liily, hip-hop duo Rae Sremmurd and Grammy Award nominee Sia.  Additionally, Saturday Night Live’s Chloe Fineman, Sarah Sherman and the comedy trio Please Don’t Destroy will also appear.

Miley’s New Year’s Eve Party, executive produced by SNL’s Lorne Michaels and Cyrus herself, is returning to NBC for the second year in a row. Cyrus will be joined by her godmother, Dolly Parton, as co-host to ring in the the new year (Parton replaces Pete Davidson, who co-hosted the special with Cyrus last year).  Jen Neal, Executive Vice President, Entertainment Live Events, Specials and E! News, NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, said in a statement: “The inaugural ‘Miley’s New Year’s Eve Party’ was an unqualified success and we know this year’s show will be just as spectacular, with plenty of surprises and lots of fun. We can’t wait to get the party started.”

Miley’s New Year’s Eve Party will air live on NBC from Miami on Saturday, Dec. 31 from 10:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. ET and will also be livestreamed on Peacock.

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U.S. Postal Service to invest $9.6 billion in electric vehicle fleet

The U.S. Postal Service announced it will invest $9.6 billion to make the switch into a 100% electric vehicle fleet in the next five years. The USPS plans to acquire a fleet that is 100% electric in 2026, making it one of the largest electric vehicle fleets in the United States. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy said: “We have a statutory requirement to deliver mail and packages to 163 million addresses six days per week and to cover our costs in doing so — that is our mission. As I have said in the past, if we can achieve those objectives in a more environmentally responsible way, we will do so.”

The postal service ramped up its move toward electric vehicles earlier this year after public outcry and a lawsuit alleged it was not doing enough to reduce its carbon footprint. USPS more than doubled its inventory of electric vehicles, putting 25,000 NGDVs to work. USPS will increase its number of Next Generation Delivery Vehicles to at least 60,000, about 45,000 of which will be powered by battery by 2028. About 21,000 will be commercially purchased vehicles. Congress approved $3 billion toward the initiative as part of the Inflation Reduction Act.

The White House has worked to increase the number of electric vehicles on the road with a goal of 50% of new vehicles sold in 2030 to be all electric. Sales of electric vehicles in the United States have tripled since President Joe Biden took office. John Podesta, Senior Advisor to the President, said: “We commend the U.S. Postal Service. The USPS plan leverages the $3 billion provided by the Inflation Reduction Act to hit the target of 100% electric delivery vehicle purchases in 2026, sets the postal fleet on a course for electrification, significantly reduces vehicles miles traveled in the network, and places USPS at the forefront of the clean transportation revolution.”

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Two dead, 11 hurt after magnitude-6.4 California earthquake

At least two people were killed and 11 more injured on Tuesday due to a magnitude-6.4 earthquake off the coast of Ferndale in Humboldt County, California. The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services said in statement that the two deaths were “as a result of medical emergencies.”

Power remained off for almost 70,000 customers as of Tuesday afternoon in the county after the earthquake struck about 7.5 miles southwest of Ferndale at 2:34 a.m. PST, activating the U.S. Geological Survey’s Shake Alert system. No tsunami warnings were issued. The area was then rocked by dozens of aftershocks in the same general area, one as strong as magnitude 4.6, resulting in minor damage to some buildings. Moderate damage to properties throughout the Eel River Valley is being reported.

The tremor also damaged the Fernbridge northeast of Ferndale. The California Department of Transportation tweeted along with a photo of the damaged bridge: “State Route 211 is closed while we conduct safety inspections due to possible seismic damage.”  Humboldt County confirmed on its website that a handful of other routes were also impassible.  The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services confirmed on Twitter it is “working with local and state partners to ensure the safety of Californians and availability of resources”, and Gov. Gavin Newsom said on Twitter: the State is sending in our best people to support … Be prepared for aftershocks. Check gas and water lines for damages or leaks. Stay safe.”

The California Department of Conservation said Tuesday’s quak is the largest to strike Northern California in years, and could be the most powerful since July 2019 when a 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck near Ridgecrest in the south of the state.

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Country Daypop

‘Willie Nelson and Family’ set for world premiere at 2023 Sundance Festival

The authorized new film about one of country music’s greatest legends will have its world premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival next year.  ‘Willie Nelson and Family’ — which is presented in five parts — is directed by award-winning filmmakers Thom Zimny and Oren Moverman and features Nelson’s own contributions. The movie follows the many ups and downs of Willie’s epic life and career, and also includes interviews with friends and family members, as well as access to his personal archives. Sundance 2023 will take place from January 19–29 in Park City, Salt Lake City and the Sundance Resort.

Willie Nelson and Family’ was developed by Nelson’s longtime manager Mark Rothbaum and Blackbird Presents founder & chief creative officer Keith Wortman. Rothbaum and Wortman remarked: “Telling Willie’s story has been a lifelong dream of ours, and we feel privileged to realize this dream with Thom, Oren, and Sight Unseen. Words like ‘honored,’ ‘excited,’ and “humbled’ don’t come close to describing the way we feel about being entrusted with telling Willie’s story. And what a story it is! We are celebrating the music, the career, the long road, the family, friends, and history. But, more than anything, we are piecing together a narrative — one never before seen in its entirety — about an extraordinary man with a unique ability to bring people together; folks of all races, orientations, genders, political ideologies, and musical leanings. These days, we sure could use the healing powers of Willie Nelson.”

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Country Daypop

Little Big Town share video for ‘Rich Man’

Little Big Town have shared the music video for their song “Rich Man,” written by LBT’s Jimi Westbrook over the course of the last decade. The video for “Rich Man” features actor Charles Esten (from ‘Outer Banks’ and ‘Nashville’), and tells the story of a young boy and his relationship with his father (Esten) over the course of time. Interwoven with a performance by Little Big Town, the video ends with a twist: Westbrook himself playing the older grown-up version of the little boy.

“Rich Man” is taken from LBT’s 10th studio album ‘Mr. Sun.’  Says Westbrook of the track: “‘Rich Man’ has a special place in my heart, and I’ve been touched by the response it’s gotten from the record and playing it on the road. We wanted the video to show the love of family, and love of a father. This song makes me think of my own dad, and I wanted to honor that as well as the heart I have for my son. Making this with Charles, the other actors, and of course Karen, Kimberly, and Phillip, was really a labor of love.”  Adds LBT’s Karen Fairchild: “‘Rich Man’ tells the story of how the deep roots of family ground us and give us the space to flourish and become who we are meant to be. True wealth is the story of this song.”

Take a look at the video for ‘Rich Man’ – here.
To buy or stream Mr. Sun, head here.

Little Big Town releases ‘Rich Man’ video

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Take a look at Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling in the trailer for ‘Barbie’

Warner Bros. has released the official trailer for Greta Gerwig’s film “Barbie”, starring Margot Robbie as the eponymous fashion doll, and Ryan Gosling as Barbie’s longtime boyfriend, Ken.  Plot details have been kept tightly under wraps, but the film does find Barbie and Ken stuck in the real world.

Along with Robbie and Gosling, the star-studded cast includes Will Ferrell, Emma Mackey, Connor Swindells, Nicola Coughlan, Emerald Fennell, Kate McKinnon, Michael Cera, Simu Liu, America Ferrera, Ncuti Gatwa, Issa Rae, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Rhea Perlman, Sharon Rooney, Scott Evans, Ana Cruz Kayne, Ritu Arya and Jamie Demetriou.

The film is directed by Gerwig from a script the filmmaker co-wrote with Noah Baumbach.  The film began production earlier this year in London and wrapped in July.

“Barbie” premieres in theaters on July 21, 2023. Watch the full trailer – here.

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Trevor Noah confirmed as host of 2023 Grammy Awards

Emmy Award-winning comedian Trevor Noah will return to host the 65th Annual Grammy Awards for the third consecutive year. Noah will also serve as a producer on the show.

The Grammys Awards are voted on by the Recording Academy’s voting membership body of music makers who represent all genres and creative disciplines, including recording artists, songwriters, producers, mixers, and engineers.Topping the list of Nominees for the 65th Annual Grammy Awards are Beyoncé (9), Kendrick Lamar (8), Adele (7), Brandi Carlile (7), Mary J. Blige (6), DJ Khaled (6), Future (6), Terius “The-Dream” Gesteelde-Diamant (6), Randy Merrill (6), and Harry Styles (6).  Beyoncé and Jay-Z are now tied as the most nominated artists in Grammy history, with 88 each.

The 2023 Grammy Awards will be broadcast live on the CBS Television Network on Sunday, February 5, 2023, from 8–11:30 p.m. ET/5–8:30 p.m. PT, and will be available to stream live and on-demand on Paramount+.

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FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried back in Bahamian custody after backing out of extradition to U.S.

FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried made the decision to consent to extradition to the United States over the weekend, but on Monday he changed course and was sent back to a Bahamian prison. The fallen crypto mogul’s attorney said he would not agree to extradition from the Bahamas last week when he was arrested at one of his palatial homes. On Saturday, he indicated he would not contest extradition.

However on Monday in open court in the Bahamas, Bankman-Fried requested a copy of his federal indictment. After seeing the indictment, the 30-year-old decided he would not surrender himself to extradition, which could have happened by the end of the day if he agreed. Bankman-Fried’s defense attorney was surprised that his client was in court on Monday as well. Prosecutor Franklyn Williams KC said he did not request Bankman-Fried’s presence but was of the understanding that he intended to waive his contention of extradition.

Bankman-Fried was sent back to His Majesty’s Prison Fox Hill, which is notorious for its poor conditions, including inadequate sanitation practices, overcrowding and poor nutrition. Bankman-Fried is being held in a private room in the medical wing of the prison.

The disgraced founder of crypto exchange FTX faces eight charges, including fraud, money laundering and campaign finance law violations. Three of the counts against him — two counts of wire fraud, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering — carry maximum 20-year sentences.

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Jan. 6 panel recommends criminal charges against Donald Trump for trying to overturn 2020 election

The U.S. House committee investigating the violent insurrection at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 voted unanimously on Monday to recommend the Justice Department pursue a batch of criminal charges against former President Donald Trump for his role in an effort to overturn the 2020 election. Trump was the first president in American history to be impeached twice, and is now also the first president ever to be formally referred by Congress for potential criminal prosecution.

The committee’s final meeting marked the end of a 17-month congressional investigation that included more than 100 subpoenas, interviews with more than 1,200 witnesses and the collection of hundreds of thousands of documents. The select committee also took aim at Trump’s top allies who worked with the former president to block certification of Democrat Joe Biden’s election victory and illegitimately keep Trump in power.

Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., who led the Jan. 6 subcommittee that examined referrals, said: “We understand the gravity of each and every referral we are making today, just as we understand the magnitude of the crime against democracy that we describe in our report. But we have gone where the facts and the law lead us, and inescapably they lead us here.”  Raskin said there may be others worthy of prosecution and there may be other statutes that Trump violated, noting the Justice Department will be able to form “a far more complete picture” through its own ongoing investigation.

This marks the first time in history that a congressional committee has recommended that DOJ launch a criminal investigation into a former American president. The Jan. 6 committee is urging DOJ to consider a number of charges against Trump, including conspiracy to defraud the federal government; obstruction of an official proceeding, in this case Congress’ certification of electoral votes; conspiracy to make a false statement; and inciting or assisting those in an insurrection. The criminal referrals do not carry any legal weight but represent a symbolic rebuke of Trump, who remains the most influential Republican in the country and has launched another bid for president in 2024.

The committee also voted to formally adopt its full report on its Jan. 6 investigation; it is expected to be hundreds of pages long and will be released to the public on Wednesday. Interview transcripts and other written and video evidence will also be shared with the public, committee members said. Outgoing Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. said: “With painstaking detail, this executive summary documents the sinister plot to subvert the Congress, shred the Constitution and halt the peaceful transfer of power. The Committee has reached important conclusions about the evidence it has developed, and I respect those findings.”

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