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Rihanna set to star in new ‘Smurfs’ movie

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:21 GMT

(CNN) — RiRi smurf?Superstar Rihanna is set to play Smurfette in the upcoming “Smurfs” animated film.On Thursday, Paramount Pictures announced the news during their CinemaCon presentation, revealing that the singer will create and perform original music for the film. She will also serve as a producer.“Getting to do animation is a fun journey for me,” Rihanna said. “I’m usually front and center with everything with my likeness…but this was fun, I got to imagine, I got to show up in my pajamas in my third trimester, and be a blue badass.”Chris Miller and Matt Landon will co-direct the movie. Pam Brady penned the script.The “Smurfs” film franchise kicked off in 2011 with “The Smurfs,” starring Neil Patrick Harris. Katy Perry formerly played Smurfette.“The Smurfs 2” was released in 2013, followed by 2017’s “Smurfs: The Lost Village.”As for her acting career, Rihanna starred in 201...

Eastern EU countries strike deal with EU Commission to clear Ukrainian grain glut

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:21 GMT

BRUSSELS — Five EU countries have struck a deal with the European Commission on shifting millions of tonnes of Ukrainian grain out of the region after almost two weeks of intensive negotiations, EU trade chief Valdis Dombrovskis said Friday.“I’m glad to announce that we have reached a political agreement concerning Ukrainian agrifood imports in the EU. We’ve agreed with the five neighboring EU member states and Ukraine on how we’ll tackle the situation,” Dombrovskis said. Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Bulgaria restricted imports of Ukrainian produce earlier this month following protests by farmers unable to sell their crops due to a supply glut.As previously announced, the European Commission will put forward emergency safeguard measures for wheat, maize, rapeseed and sunflower seeds, Dombrovskis said, adding that investigations into other products could follow.He did not provide more details on what the emergency measures entail, but EU diplomats say that the imports of those...

Sanctions-busting states could be next in Brussels’ crosshairs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:21 GMT

European governments are drawing up plans to hit third countries with economic penalties if they fail to comply with Western sanctions or can’t explain a sudden rise in trade in banned goods, according to three EU diplomats briefed on the discussions. Such a mechanism, which is being discussed as part of the EU’s next sanctions package against Russia over the Ukraine war, would be a first step toward so-called secondary or extraterritorial sanctions — a practice that is already used by the United States.“This would be an important policy shift for the EU,” one of the diplomats said.The idea illustrates the EU’s growing frustration over circumvention of Western sanctions against Russia by unscrupulous states and businesses. After adopting 10 sanctions packages against Moscow, the EU has appointed David O’Sullivan as special envoy to make sure European sanctions are implemented and not open to evasion. But O’Sullivan — a former secretary-...

Police find pipe bomb at home of Webster, NH man charged in connection with Weare explosions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:21 GMT

Authorities have made an arrest in the case of two explosions reported in Weare, NH, this week, one of which injured a passerby.The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ Boston Field Division announced the arrest of 54-year-old Dale Stewart Jr., who was arrested “in connection with the two explosive devices” in the Town of Weare.https://twitter.com/ATFBoston/status/1651962116939698177Stewart, a Webster, NH, resident, was taken into custody after officials launched an investigation into a pair of explosions that occurred in Weare – one on Wednesday evening at 6:10 p.m. in the area of Dustin Tavern Road and another that happened Thursday morning at 6:50 a.m. off Sugar Hill Road.A passerby was injured in the second explosion, suffering minor injuries from shattered glass after he stopped on his way to work to check out smoke he spotted on the side of the road, according to officials. The explosion, which 7NEWS sources said was caused by a pipe...

Maine highway shooting victims healing, grateful, confused

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:21 GMT

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The father of two of the victims of a deadly shooting rampage in Maine said Friday he and his children are recovering from their injuries and grateful for the support they’ve received from the community. The family is also still baffled why such violence befell them while they were driving down the highway.A 34-year-old man confessed last week to injuring three people while shooting at vehicles on Interstate 295 in Yarmouth and four killings at a home in Bowdoin, police have said.Soon after the discovery of the bodies in Bowdoin, police responded to gunshots fired at several vehicles more than 20 miles (about 32 kilometers) to the south on a busy highway in Yarmouth. Bullets struck a family in one of the vehicles, wounding Sean Halsey, 51, and his children Justin Halsey, 29, and Paige Halsey, 25, police said.The shootings left Paige Halsey in critical condition for several days, and she is now in stable condition and recovering, Sean Halsey said Friday outside...

NFL Draft Live | Who are the best players left on Day 2?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:21 GMT

By The Associated PressKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — It’s Day 2 of the NFL draft! Who will pick Will Levis? The standout Kentucky quarterback will be the biggest name on the board when the second round kicks off at 7 p.m. EST from Kansas City’s Union Station with the Pittsburgh Steelers on the clock.Bryce Young went first overall to the Carolina Panthers followed by C.J. Stroud to the Houston Texans for a 1-2 quarterback combo at the top of the draft Thursday. The second round can be viewed on NFL Network and ESPN. Follow for live updates from Associated Press reporters across the country (all times EST).ALL EYES ON LEVISThe Kentucky QB was projected as high as the second overall pick. Instead, he’s heading to Round 2 still waiting for a team to buzz his phone, writes AP’s Arnie Stapleton.Levis sat uncomfortably, sometimes squirming in front of the TV cameras, as he watched three quarterbacks picked in the first four selections: Young to the Panthers, Stroud ...

Erik Spoelstra calls Kyle Lowry the Heat’s ‘sixth starter’ as reserve role sticks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:21 GMT

The first move to the bench was planned; the Miami Heat wanted Kyle Lowry to ease his way back as a reserve after missing a month due to knee pain. What has followed has been player and coach in lockstep about maintaining continuity.So Sunday, when the Heat open the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinals at Madison Square Garden against the New York Knicks, it will be Lowry again as reserve, as it has been since his March 11 return, as it had not been for the previous 10 seasons as nothing but starter.“That first decision to bring him off the bench was an easy one,” coach Erik Spoelstra said Friday at Kaseya Center. “We were fully all on the same page about it. This is what had to be done to be able to control the minutes.”From there, the rhythm with Gabe Vincent opening at starting point guard was one neither Lowry, 37, nor Spoelstra wanted to interrupt.“I think the plan was very well thought out and everybody was on the same page about it,”...

Bruins notebook: Hampus Lindholm trying to do whatever he can to win

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:21 GMT

SUNRISE, Fla.–Hampus Lindholm has been playing just fine in this first round playoff series. He and Brandon Carlo have combined to be a solid shut-down pairing against the Florida Panthers.But when you’ve had a season that’s been worthy of Norris Trophy consideration like Lindholm had, one expects to see a little more oomph in the offensive zone. While he was plus-2 going into Friday’s Game 6 – not a bad number considering how reliant the B’s have been on their power play – he had not hit the scoresheet in any of the first five games. He had 10-43-53 totals in 80 regular season games.Coach Jim Montgomery believes the offense will come if he keeps doing what he’s been doing in the defensive zone.“This is true for all of our defensemen, but especially Lindholm. His offense always comes from great defense or moving the puck and joining,” said Montgomery. “You look at the goals he scored or the great passes throughout the year, it’s come from th...

GATORS PODCAST: Anthony Richardson’s big night and his NFL future (Ep. 163)

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:21 GMT

The Indianapolis Colts selected the former Florida quarterback No. 4 overall in the NFL draft. Few were surprised someone was willing to bet on Richardson’s tremendous talent and upside. Most are mixed on whether he will fulfill his promise. Either way, it was a memorable and profitable night for the 20-year-old and a big one for Gainesville, where Richardson was a high school star. Some of his Gators teammates were sure to hear their names call, too, during a moment players work for their entire lives. Mark and Edgar opine on Richardson’s opportunity and plenty of football topics during the latest Swamp Things.Sun shining on Anthony Richardson (:37)Source of pride for Gainesville (5:05)He has tons of work ahead to prove he is worthy (9:24)Gator greats weigh in (13:05)Will team/fans be patient? (19:39)Does Billy Napier deserve praise? (24:29)Where will other Gators land? (29:14)Transfer portal (40:05)Clamping down on storming the field (45:04)Fastest shrinking fanbases (...

‘Ravens doing Ravens things again’: Baltimore earns high draft grades after pick of WR Zay Flowers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:21 GMT

Just hours after agreeing Thursday to a five-year deal with Lamar Jackson, ending a difficult standoff with their star quarterback, the Ravens selected Boston College wide receiver Zay Flowers with the No. 22 overall pick in the first round of the NFL draft.The 5-foot-9, 182-pound Flowers, a South Florida native, comes to Baltimore after a very productive college career. He finished with 200 catches for 3,056 yards and 29 touchdowns in four seasons at Boston College, choosing to remain loyal to the program despite opportunities to transfer to a better team. Now he joins Jackson, fellow wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Rashod Bateman and tight end Mark Andrews in a passing attack that looks to take a significant step forward under new offensive coordinator Todd Monken.“I can do whatever you need me to do,” Flowers said Thursday night. “I can run every route you give me; I can separate; I can make competitive catches. Whatever you have to do to play on the outsid...