Month: December 2024

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News Daypop

Trump selects Tiffany Trump’s FIL Massad Boulos as senior adviser on Middle East

Donald Trump speaks at an event. NATIONAL HARBOR^ MD^ USA- February 24^ 2024 picture on white background or screen^

President-elect Donald Trump has chosen billionaire businessman Massad Boulos, the father-in-law to his daughter Tiffany Trump, as his senior adviser on Middle Eastern affairs.

Trump announced on his Truth Social media platform that Boulos, father of Trump’s son-in-law Michael Boulos, will serve as White House senior adviser on Arab and Middle East affairs. Born to a Christian family in Lebanon, Massad Boulos runs Nigeria-based Boulos Enterprises, which produces and distributes mechanical equipment and motorcycles. Michael Boulos has been married to Trump’s daughter Tiffany since 2022.

Trump said in his announcement of the selection: “I am proud to announce that Massad Boulos will serve as Senior Advisor to the President on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs. Massad is an accomplished lawyer and a highly respected leader in the business world, with extensive experience on the International scene. He has been a longtime proponent of Republican and Conservative values, an asset to my Campaign, and was instrumental in building tremendous new coalitions with the Arab American Community. Massad is a dealmaker, and an unwavering supporter of PEACE in the Middle East. He will be a strong advocate for the United States, and its interests, and I am pleased to have him on our team!”

During the presidential election cycle, it is said that Boulos helped Trump by courting Arab American voters and met in September with Mahmoud Abbas – the leader of the Palestinian Authority who had barred Palestinian officials from meeting with the Trump administration during his first term as president. Boulos, however, told The New York Times after the conference with Abbas that it was purely a personal meeting, adding that he did not advise Trump about it before or after.

Editorial credit: Irfy0003 / Shutterstock.com

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News Daypop

6 injured, 3 critically, in home explosion in Jefferson City, Missouri

Fast moving fire engine on city street. Firefighters in blurred motion.

Fire officials say that a home explosion in Jefferson City, Missouri over Thanksgiving weekend left the residence in shambles, with six people inside injured – three critically. Jefferson is the state capital, located about 133 miles west of St. Louis.

According to a press release from Jefferson City Fire, the explosion occurred on St. Louis Road in Jefferson City early Saturday morning at 2:44 a.m. The cause of the explosion is still under investigation. Jefferson City Fire said in the release: “Rescue operations were particularly challenging due to the extensive structural collapse and significant debris. The team had to carefully tunnel through layers of debris to reach the final occupant, who required intensive extrication.” Photos show the explosion left the home almost completely leveled, with responders saying they discovered the six individuals among the debris upon arrival. All six of the individuals were safely removed from the residence by 5:52 a.m.

Emergency responders said of the six individuals injured in the blast, two were transported to Jefferson City Airport and flown to University Hospital in Columbia, Missouri, with the remaining four people transported by ground to University Hospital. Fire officials also said that two pets were rescued from the collapsed home and are now in the care of animal control.

ABC News’ Missouri affiliate KMIZ reports that Cole County EMS Chief Eric Hoy told the outlet that three of the victims are listed in critical condition and received critical life support. The other three have moderate injuries and are in stable condition.

Editorial credit: Jaromir Chalabala / Shutterstock.com

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Country Daypop

Luke Combs, Jelly Roll & Keith Urban to headline Tortuga Music Festival in 2025

Luke Combs performs live at ao arena manchester uk. Manchester^ United Kingdom^ 17th october 2023

Luke Combs, Jelly Roll and Keith Urban will headline Rock the Ocean’s 12th annual Tortuga Music Festival taking place April 4–6 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Other acts slated to perform include Gary Allan, Rodney Atkins, Artikal Sound System, Bumpin Uglies, Ashland Craft, Jordan Davis, Gavin DeGraw, Wyatt Flores, Gashi, Caylee Hammack, Ezra Ray Hart (ft. Mark McGrath, Kevin Griffin, Emerson Hart), Cody Jinks, Corey Kent, Marcus King, Ludacris, Parker McCollum, John Morgan, Megan Moroney, Angie K, Drew Parker, Meghan Patrick, Restless Road, DJ Rock, Lily Rose, Shaboozey, Dee Jay Silver, The Original Wailers, Wheeland Brothers and Yelawolf.

The festival will also feature emerging artists including Abby Anderson, Avery Anna, Bayker Blankenship, Karley Scott Collins, Kashus Culpepper, Denitia, Jade Eagleson, Mae Estes, Thomas Edwards, Lanie Gardner, Noah Hicks, Jenna LaMaster, Bryce Leatherwood, Lauren Watkins and Charlie Worsham.

Tortuga Music Festival supports ocean conservation and sustainability, with fans able to explore the Rock the Ocean’s Conversation Village while on-site to learn more about the work of the organization and how to get involved. The festival has raised almost five million dollars for ocean conservation initiatives to date.

For more information on the Tortuga Music Festival, click here.

Editorial credit: ChrisJamesRyanPhotography / Shutterstock.com

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Country Daypop

Little Big Town to host NBC special ‘Christmas At The Opry’

Phillip Sweet^ Karen Fairchild^ Jimi Westbrook Kimberly Schlapman of Little Big Town attend the 53rd Academy of Country Music Awards on April 15^ 2018 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Little Big Town will host the two-hour NBC holiday special Little Big Town’s Christmas at the Opry, with performances by Dan + Shay, Kelsea Ballerini and more. The band’s first-ever holiday album, The Christmas Record, was released on October 4.

The star-studded show was filmed at the legendary Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee, with the special featuring a variety of Christmas favorites and holiday classics, with performances to include duets and collaborations in front of a live audience.

Little Big Town in a joint statement: “We are simply beside ourselves to announce that we will host our own NBC holiday special at the prestigious Grand Ole Opry House. This is an incredible honor for us, and we are beyond thrilled to share this special evening with viewers and fans across the country. We’ve invited some of our dearest friends to join us on stage, and we can’t wait for everyone to experience the magic of the holidays at such an incredible venue. After 25 years as a band, we’re also excited to release our very first Christmas album and are thrilled to perform some of those classics during this special.”

Little Big Town’s Christmas at the Opry will air on NBC December 16 at 8 pm ET/PT, then stream on Peacock the next day.

Editorial credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com

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Entertainment Daypop

‘Moana 2’ tops weekend box office earning $135.5M in North America

Auli'i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson attend the "Moana 2" UK Premiere at Cineworld Leicester Square in London^ England. London^ United Kingdom - November 24^ 2024

The long-awaited sequel film Moana 2 topped the weekend box office, earning $135.5 million in receipts this weekend.

Per The Hollywood Reporter, Moana 2 has earned $221 million since Thanksgiving Eve last Wednesday, and had the biggest five-day debut in history – and the best-ever Thanksgiving holiday weekend earnings (the previous five-day record-holder was 2023’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie with $204.6 million).

Wicked came in at No. 2 with $80 million, followed by Gladiator II at No. 3 ($30.7 million), Red One at No. 4 ($12.9 million) and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever at No. 5 ($3.3 million).

Rounding out the Top 10 were: Bonhoeffer at No. 6; Venom: The Last Dance at No. 7 ; Heretic at No. 8; The Wild Robot at No. 9; and A Real Pain at No. 10.

Editorial credit: Fred Duval / Shutterstock.com

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Entertainment Daypop

George Clooney to make Broadway debut in ‘Good Night, and Good Luck’

George Clooney at the premiere of CATCH-22 on May 7^ 2019 at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood^ CA. HOLLYWOOD^ CA - MAY 07^ 2019

George Clooney will make his Broadway debut in Good Night, and Good Luck with performances beginning in previews on March 12, 2025 at the Winter Garden Theater stage, with an opening date of April 3.

The Winter Garden venue will be available as of January, with the recently-announced closing of the Back the the Future musical. When the production was announced in May, Clooney said, “I am honored, after all these years, to be coming back to the stage and especially, to Broadway, the art form and the venue that every actor aspires to.”

Clooney will portray Edward R. Murrrow, the journalist who challenges Senator Joseph McCarthy. An official synopsis reads: “As McCarthyism casts a shadow over America, Murrow and his team at CBS choose to confront the growing tide of paranoia and propaganda… Good Night, and Good Luck chronicles a time in American history when truth and journalistic integrity stood up to fearmongering and disinformation — and won.”

The stage play is co-written by Clooney and Grant Heslov, based on their screenplay for the 2005 film of the same name, which received six Academy Award nominations. Clooney portrayed Fred W. Friendly in the movie, and served as its director. David Cromer will directs the Broadway show, which officially opens April 3.

Editorial credit: Serge Rocco / Shutterstock.com