December 2024 – Page 2

Sarah Paxton discusses Steve Carell’s early fame in Sleepover Days

Young Sara Paxton saw Steve Carell as a star-to-be years before The Office made him famous.

• A teenager said Carell would be successful.

• Paxton does great in the True Story series

Today, Sara Paxton, who is 36 years old, talked about working with Steve Carell in the 2004 teen comedy “Sleepover,” which was before he became famous from “The Office.”

As an actor of 14 years, Paxton noticed Carell’s great ability during a short but memorable encounter on the set.

Paxton played an eighth-grader on a treasure hunt during a sleepover in “Sleepover,” along with Alexa PenaVega, Kallie Flynn Childress, Brie Larson, and Mika Boomer.

Carell played a security guard named Sherman Shiner who runs into the girls while they are on their adventures.

In his early years, what made Steve Carell stand out?

Good timing for comedy

Great improvisational skills

Strong presence on screen

Able to make easy scenes more interesting

When Paxton thinks back on their scene together, he remembers opening the door for Carell’s character because he thought it was a pizza delivery.

Even in this short time, she saw how well he could improvise and be funny, which made her think he would do well in the future.

Carell went on to win a Golden Globe, be nominated for an Oscar, and receive many other honors. Their intuition proved to be accurate.

The actress Paxton has managed to do well in her playing career. In the second season of Peacock’s “Based on a True Story,” she plays Paige, the Copycat Killer who wants to get payback for the death of her sister.

Even though Paxton was nervous at first about joining a group that already had a lot of experience, the crew and other players made her feel very welcome.

The actress said it was like starting junior year: she was nervous at first about fitting in, but she quickly found her place among the friendly cast and crew. You can watch “Based on a True Story” right now on Peacock.

Ten people die in a terrible stampede in Abuja

Ten people, including children, are killed in a stampede in Abuja at a Christmas event.

Ten people died in an Abuja stampede.

Another terrible event this week

Ten people, four of them children, died in a terrible rush in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, on Saturday.

Police say the tragedy happened when a lot of people met at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama to get food that the church was giving out at a Christmas event.

The event happened early in the morning, and more than 1,000 people had to leave the stylish Maitama area because of it.

Police spokeswoman Josephine Adeh confirmed the deaths and stressed how important it was to act quickly.

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of lives and are working tirelessly to assist those affected,” he said.

What caused the crowd to rush?

Big Crowd: More than 1,000 people showed up for the release.

Fewer Exits: Too many people were squished because there weren’t enough exits.

Fear: People pushed forward when they felt sudden fear.

Emergency Response: The problem got worse when emergency services were late.

This terrible event is the second panic in Nigeria in a week. Nigeria is the most crowded country in Africa.

The country’s serious cost-of-living problem has led many local groups, schools, and people to plan a lot of handouts before Christmas.

This has led to a rise in charity events. The more meetings are meant to provide much-needed relief, but they have also caused worries about how to handle the crowds and keep everyone safe.

The authorities are looking into what caused the rush so that it doesn’t happen again. At the same time, leaders in the community are asking for better planning and infrastructure to keep big groups safe, especially during busy times like the holidays.

Families who were affected by the rush are getting help from a number of charitable organizations, and the government has promised to make future events safer.

People all over the country are talking about how to balance pressing humanitarian needs with good crowd control so that tragedies like this don’t happen again.

When drones attack Russian airports, flights are limited

Russian airports in Kazan and Saratov were closed after what were thought to be Ukrainian drone strikes.

Eight drones struck Kazan, but no one was hurt.

Both Russia and Ukraine say that drones have intercepted important messages.

State-run news sources said that two major Russian airports were closed early Saturday morning because of claimed drone attacks from Ukraine.

The Federal Air Transport Agency of Russia temporarily stopped planes from landing and taking off at Kazan International Airport and Gagarin Airport in Saratov, both in the southwest of Russia.

Unexpectedly, Kazan, which is more than 600 miles from places held by Ukraine, and Saratov, which is more than 350 miles away, were both attacked.

The news office for Tatarstan said that eight drones attacked Kazan, but no one was hurt. According to Tass, “one was at an industrial enterprise, one was over a river, and six were aimed at residential areas.”

Kazan’s mayor, Ilsur Metshin, admitted that fires broke out in homes in three city areas, which is why some schools had to be evacuated.

The leader of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov, called what happened on Telegram a “massive UAV attack.”

He gave people peace of mind by saying, “All forces have been deployed.” Do not worry. That is the most important thing. Our instructions to the government are to quickly let people know about escape spots.

What did Russia do about the drone attacks?

Six Ukrainian drones were shot down over Kazan, according to the Defense Ministry.

Three drones were hit and killed.

Electronic warfare was used to stop three of them.

In total, 19 Ukrainian drones have been caught flying over Russian airspace.

Russia said it had shot down 19 Ukrainian drones inside its own borders. On the other hand, Ukraine’s air force said that Russia sent 113 drones into Ukraine overnight. 57 drones were shot down by Ukrainian air defenses, and 56 were lost to active defenders.

On Saturday morning, air raid sirens could be heard all over Ukraine, and officials warned that nuclear weapons could be used across the country.

Presidential spokesman Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that recent attacks destroyed a cancer center in Kherson and hurt buildings in Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia.

Attacks with ballistic missiles happened in Kyiv, and areas like Sumy, Kryvyi Rih, Dnipropetrovsk, and Donetsk were shelled. Seven people were hurt in Zaporizhzhia and six were hurt in Kharkiv.

Zelenskyy called the strikes “Russian terror” and thanked Britain, France, and other countries that helped Ukraine. He told us, “Together, through our collective strength, we will secure a lasting peace.”

These attacks come after a missile and drone attack on Kyiv last Friday, which killed at least one person and did a lot of damage to the city center.

Damage was also done to foreign missions. Ukrainian officials called the attack “barbaric.”

Identifying the Magdeburg attacker shakes Germany

A terrible attack in Magdeburg by Taleb A. kills five and hurts 200 at a Christmas market.

Suspect driven by views against Islam

A planned attack on BMW hurt more than 200 people.

Germany is still in shock after a terrible attack in Magdeburg on Friday night, when a 50-year-old man drove a black BMW into a busy Christmas market.

At least five people died in the terrible event, and about 200 others were hurt. The suspect, Taleb A., was quickly caught. He is a psychiatrist and psychotherapist who has lived in Germany for twenty years.

Local media said that Taleb A. used to be a Muslim but now hates Islam and has written anti-Islamic things on his X (formerly Twitter) account.

He tweeted and retweeted things that were negative about religion and positive about Muslims who gave up their faith.

Also, Taleb has spoken out against how the German government is treating what he calls the “Islamism of Europe.”

After 25 years in this “game,” you might think nothing could surprise you anymore, but Peter Neumann, a well-known German expert on terrorism, expressed shock at what had occurred.

It wasn’t on my mind, though, that a 50-year-old Saudi ex-Muslim living in East Germany loves the AfD and wants to punish Germany for being tolerant of Islamists.

How did Taleb A. decide to carry out the attack?

Saying bad things about Islam and criticizing it

Support for the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which is very far to the right

The idea that German officials target Saudis looking for shelter

A desire to punish Germany for what people see as its acceptance of Islamists

Taleb’s reasons for writing seem to be linked to his strong resistance to Islam and his support for extreme political groups.

The police are looking into his past, including whether he backed the AfD and whether he helped Saudi women flee their home country in the past.

Recent attention on his idea that German officials treat Saudi refugee seekers unfairly may have made him act even more radically.

The attack has made people in Magdeburg sad and has stoked arguments about immigration, integration, and radical ideas in Germany.

Security forces are going over procedures to make sure that tragedies like these don’t happen again, and officials are trying to deal with the problems that may cause people to act violently in the first place.

The families of the dead want the government to help them in every way and get justice quickly. Meanwhile, the event has sparked discussions about the potential for social media to radicalize individuals and the importance of monitoring extreme content on the internet.

While Germany tries to get over this pointless violence, it stays alert to the dangers posed by radical ideas and works to make society safer and more open to everyone.

Cyclone Chido left thousands in desperation in Mayotte

Cyclone Chido destroys Mayotte, leaving thousands of people without homes and health services overloaded.

Hospitals are too full of people

Infrastructure makes it harder to help in an emergency.

A week after Cyclone Chido hit, France’s poor Indian Ocean region of Mayotte is still dealing with broad damage.

There are more than 320,000 people living on the island, and another 100,000 have moved there.

It is now very hard to figure out how many people have died, get basic services back up and running, and help a population that is struggling.

The main hospital in Mamoudzou, the city of Mayotte, is under a lot of stress. The head of the obstetrics and gynecology department, Dr. Roger Serhal, said that 40 to 60 beds and 40 to 40 patient rooms had been lost. Serhal said, “We have no room for all the patients who are coming in.”

In 220 kph winds, his team delivered three babies, including one by C-section, which showed how badly the hospital was doing.

The damage goes beyond hospitals and clinics. Whole areas were destroyed, and many people didn’t leave even though they were told to because they thought the storm wouldn’t be that bad.

France’s Health Minister Geneviève Darrieussecq, says that the 35 reported deaths are probably a lot less than the real number.

A lot more people may have died, especially refugees who didn’t go to shelters because they were afraid of being sent back to their home countries.

Due to a lack of clean water and power, doctors are worried that a health crisis is about to happen.

Living conditions that are too crowded make it easier for diseases to spread. Patients aren’t getting care because there is no water or power.

“We worry about epidemics like the cholera outbreak that we just stopped,” said Dr. Vincent Gilles, who is in charge of the hospital’s emergency room.

Why do you think Mayotte is having so much trouble?

Hospitals are overcrowded and don’t have enough beds.

Not having enough power or clean water

The chance of disease outbreaks

Emergency help is being sent out slowly.

As hospital resources run out, the situation stays very bad. As Serhal says, “If it rains, it will be terrible.”

People who live there, like 54-year-old Saindou Mohamadi, who was hurt in the storm, are very sad. He said, “My family needs food and a place to live, but we don’t have anything.”

With six kids to take care of, Mohamadi is like many other Mayotte locals who have lost their homes and are without money.

About 75% of the people in Mayotte live in poverty because the country has long been neglected and underinvested in.

The infrastructure of the island wasn’t ready for Cyclone Chido’s destruction, which made people less confident in the government’s ability to help quickly.

Emergency relief attempts are still going on, including airlifts of food and water, but they are slowed down because Mayotte’s airport is closed to passenger planes because of damage.

During his visit on Friday, French President Emmanuel Macron admitted how bad things were and promised to rebuild. But locals are still angry about how slowly help is being sent to them.

According to France’s Interior Ministry, 70% of Mayotte’s people have been severely affected, and many have been left homeless and defenseless.

A rocket attack hits Tel Aviv as the conflict in Yemen gets worse

As the war between Israel and the Houthis gets worse, a rocket from Yemen hits Tel Aviv, hurting people.

30 people are hurt in a rocket attack in Tel Aviv.

Houthis fire more than 200 rockets into Gaza during a war.

Overnight, rockets fired from Yemen hit Tel Aviv, hurting 16 people with broken glass. The Israeli military says that 14 more people were slightly hurt as they ran for cover when air raid sirens went off just before 4 a.m. Saturday.

The latest incident in a string of ones between Israeli troops and the Houthi rebels in Yemen is this one.

In the capital, Sanaa, which the Houthis control, and the port city, Hodeida, Israeli bombs killed at least nine people less than two days ago.

These attacks came right after a Houthi attack in which a long-range missile hit an Israeli school building.

The Houthis also said that a drone attack happened on Thursday in central Israel on an unknown military target.

Why do the Houthis want to attack Israel?

A: In reaction to the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, to put pressure on both sides to end the fighting.

How many times have the Houthis attacked?

A: More than 200 rockets and drones since the fighting got worse.

What parts of the world are these acts hitting?

A: Tel Aviv and important sea paths in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.

What is the reaction around the world to these events?

A: The UN warns of a possible worsening of the situation in the region and asks for help.

Because Iran backs the Houthi movement, its operation has grown, making it harder for ships to travel through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

According to Stephane Dujarric, a spokesman for the UN, Israeli attacks on Hodeida’s port have done a lot of damage, making it much harder for Yemen to get food supplies during its 10-year civil war.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed concern over the escalating tensions, emphasizing that attacks from both sides could thwart peace efforts.

Guterres emphasized the need for international action to stop the area from becoming even less stable.

The latest rocket attack in Tel Aviv shows how the conflict between Israel and Hamas affects nearby countries and threatens the safety of everyone in the world.

As both sides keep attacking, people around the world are paying close attention and asking for caution and peaceful ways to stop a bigger humanitarian disaster.

Wham! Another UK chart record was set last Christmas

“Last Christmas” by Wham! is the first song in the history of the UK charts to be number one for two years in a row.

The song “Last Christmas” becomes the second UK number one in a row.

George Michael’s songs are praised for being timeless.

The famous song “Last Christmas” by Wham! has done an amazing thing by staying at the top of the UK charts for two years in a row.

According to the Official Charts Company, the 1984 hit song by Andrew Ridgeley and the late George Michael became the first in chart history to hold two consecutive Christmas Number 1 positions on December 20.

It’s just a few days before the date of George Michael’s death on Christmas Day 2016, and the “Last Christmas” 40th date EP comes out at the same time.

Ridgeley said of the accomplishment, “It took 37 years to get to Number 1, 39 years to get to Christmas Number 1, and then they all come along at once, like London buses!”

He also said that George, who wrote and produced the hit song, would have been very happy about its success.

Why does “Last Christmas” maintain its top spot on the charts year after year?

George Michael writes timeless songs.

Combines old-school sound with current streaming.

Still strikes a chord with new generations.

A strong emotional link to the Christmas season.

Ridgeley said of the song’s continued popularity, “His fabulous Christmas composition has become such a classic, almost as much a part of Christmas as mince pies, turkey, and pigs in blankets.”

He said that the song’s lasting success was due to its high quality and ability to bring out the true spirit of Christmas.

The Official Charts noted Wham!’s addition to a select group of acts who have had multiple Christmas Number 1s, such as Queen, Cliff Richard, The Spice Girls, The Beatles, and LadBaby, who currently hold the record.

Ridgeley says the song’s success shows how talented George Michael was: “Artists of that caliber and songwriters, of which George was one, transcend the ages and decades and endure because of their quality.”

“Last Christmas” not only rules streaming and sales, but it also cements Wham!’s place as a holiday music legend.

It’s clear that this song is a classic Christmas theme because it continues to touch people’s hearts every holiday season.

Cameron Mathison Reveals Candace Cameron Bure Secrets…

Cameron Mathison shows off Candace. Cameron’s sense of humor is evident when discussing the holiday movie they worked on together.

Bure’s silly sense of humor shocks Matthewson.

Marc Blucas says nice things about Bure’s production skills.

Fans wouldn’t expect Cameron Mathison to talk about a different side of Candace Cameron Bure. The actor from General Hospital and the former Full House star talked about working with her on their most recent Great American Family movie, Home Sweet Christmas, in a panel discussion at Christmas Con on December 14 in Edison, New Jersey. Breanne L. Heldman of PEOPLE led the discussion.

“It was really, really lovely,” Mathison, 55, said of shooting the holiday show. He’s been friends with Bure, 48, for years, but this was their first time working together on a movie.

Not only did her skill stand out, but her sense of fun also surprised him.

Mathison told the crowd, “She’s so funny and a little dirty!” He then joked, “She never missed a beat to give me a hard time on something super funny!”

Ask yourself what made Candace Cameron Bure stand out on the set

Her smart, funny, and bizarre sense of humor.

Made jokes as a joke to keep the mood light.

No problem making fun of her co-star during scenes.

She had a fun-loving, laid-back side outside of her jobs.

Marc Blucas, who worked with Bure on A Christmas… Present in 2022, spoke up during the panel. He laughed and jokedly removed himself from Mathison’s “dirty” statement.

But he did praise Bure’s ability to lead and work with others. He said it was “great to work with the boss” when stars like Bure also produce.

Blucas, who is 52 years old, said that working with stars like Bure, Jen Lilley, and Danica McKellar, who also produce their own movies, makes the shooting process go more smoothly.

“I believe I can state, ‘This scene does not work,’ and we do not need to call someone else.'”

In a similar vein, Mathison appreciated Bure’s capacity to balance her upbeat demeanor with her responsibilities as a leading actress and director.

“She’d be right there cracking jokes, but she’d also switch into a completely focused mode when needed,” he said.

This new, fun take on the famous Full House star will please fans of holiday movies. She continues to shine both on screen and behind the scenes.

Master of the Universe movie will have Jared Leto as Skeletor

Jared Leto will play the bad guy Skeletor in Masters of the Universe. The movie is set to come out in June 2026.

Jared Leto will play Skeletor in a real-life movie.

Nicholas Galitzine plays the lead role of He-Man.

Jared Leto is taking on the role of another famous bad guy. He played the Joker in Suicide Squad and Zack Snyder’s Justice League.

Now, the 52-year-old actor has been cast as Skeletor in the new live-action Masters of the Universe movie, which is based on the popular 1980s show and toy line.

Prince Adam of Eternia, also known as He-Man, is the main enemy of Skeletor, a scary magician with a skull face. Nicholas Galitzine plays Skeletor in Red, White, and Royal Blue.

The 30-year-old British actor got a lot of praise for his part as Prince Henry in the 2023 romance movie.

He has been working hard for this physically demanding role. Galitzine has been posting sneak peeks of his preparations, such as a recent picture that shows how much he has changed physically.

There are also a few well-known faces in the group cast:

Alison Brie as the Bad Guy—Lyn, Skeletor’s smart assistant.

Camila Mendes plays Teela, He-Man’s close friend.

Idris Elba as Man-at-Arms, Adam’s teacher and Teela’s dad.

Hafthor Bjornsson as the Mountain in “Game of Thrones”

Kojo Attah and Sam C. Wilson as the bad guys Trap Jaw and Tri-Klops.

Do you think this movie will stay true to the cartoon?

It offers a mix of old-fashioned stories and new ones.

Characters you know, like Skeletor, He-Man, and Teela, are back.

The main fights will be the usual ones between good and evil.

Travis Knight is known for making movies that look amazing.

Galitzine proudly wrote on Instagram, “By the Power of Grayskull, I HAVE THE POWER,” after getting the major part. He was thrilled about playing Prince Adam and said the role would have “heart, humor, and heroism.”

Leto, meanwhile, hasn’t said anything about being cast. Fans are already looking forward to seeing him play Skeletor, though, because of how powerful and life-changing his other roles have been.

Travis Knight was the director of that movie, Bumblebee. The Amazon MGM Studios project is set to come out on June 5, 2026.

With a star-studded cast and a familiar plot, Masters of the Universe is poised to become a movie event that will appeal to both old and new fans.

Nick Cannon Talks Mariah Carey-Rihanna Concert Going Viral

Nick Cannon talks about Mariah Carey’s famous moment with Rihanna at a performance. Carey talked to fans and signed Rihanna’s breast during the show.

Mariah Carey signs Rihanna’s breast while she’s upset.

The twins surprise Carey while she is on her Christmas tour.

Nick Cannon talks about a moment that went viral between his ex-wife Mariah Carey and Rihanna. The moment made a lot of people happy.

The sweet and funny exchange happened at Carey’s show at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on December 17. Rihanna unexpectedly entered the stage, leaving an unforgettable moment.

When Cannon, 44, was working at the Los Angeles Mission on December 20, he told TMZ about the event and said, “Yeah, that was hot.”

Carey and Cannon didn’t get to talk about the event, but Cannon praised her for stopping the show to talk to the founder of Fenty Beauty.

“I thought Rihanna coming was cool.” The fact that Mariah went into the crowd was sick to me. “That was really cool,” he said.

What did people do at the concert?

During her Christmas Time tour, Carey went out into the crowd to talk to people.

When she saw Rihanna in the crowd, she was thrilled to meet her.

The best part? Carey used a pen to sign Rihanna’s breast, which made for a funny moment that fans loved.

Rihanna was thrilled and yelled to the crowd, “Mariah Carey is signing my tit!”

Carey’s holiday tour had more than just this popular moment that stood out. Earlier in the tour, on December 9 in Raleigh, North Carolina, her 13-year-old twins, Moroccan and Monroe, shocked her on stage.

She was carrying a bunch of flowers to honor her number one Christmas hit, “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” which has become a classic in Billboard history.

Carey has been having a good time on and off stage. She told PEOPLE in an exclusive interview that her son Moroccan got her into video games through Fortnite.

The singer even has her own non-playable character in Fortnite, which is based on her famous Christmas music video and has iconic dances.

“It’s so cute how she runs and spins!” “I can’t wait to share this experience with my kids,” Carey said.

Why is Carey the “Queen of Christmas”? This silly mix of Christmas cheer, family love, and great fan moments proves it.