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☆ ‘Lord of the Rings’ franchise has a new movie coming in 2026
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Lisa Respers France | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —The Oscar-winning team behind the nearly $6 billion blockbuster “Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” trilogies is reuniting to produce two new films. The first of the new projects from Sir Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens is tentatively titled “Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum,” Warner Bros. Walsh and Boyens have been tapped to write the screenplay, along with Phoebe Gittins and Arty Papageorgiou. Warner Bros. is owned by CNN’s parent company. Jackson made history with “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, becoming the first person to direct three major feature films simultaneously.

Persons: Sir Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Gollum, ” Warner, “, Andy Serkis, Walsh, Boyens, Phoebe Gittins, “ Yesssss, ” Serkis, ”, Peter, Fran, Philippa, ” Jackson, Tolkien’s, Mike De Luca, Pam Abdy, Jackson, King ”, Serkis, Jackson’s Organizations: CNN, ” Warner Bros . Discovery, Warner Bros, Warner Bros . Pictures, Globes

☆ New US military aid package to Ukraine expected to be worth around $1 billion
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Natasha Bertrand | Alex Marquardt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The Biden administration is preparing a new aid package for Ukraine that is expected to be worth around $1 billion, multiple sources familiar with the matter told CNN, and is set to be approved by President Joe Biden after the Senate passes a new foreign aid funding bill as soon as Tuesday afternoon. In briefings to Congress in recent weeks, administration officials have indicated that the US will likely send Ukraine long-range ATACMS, or Army Tactical Missile Systems, for the first time as part of the new aid package, three of the sources said. Ukrainian officials have been asking the US both in private and in public for the long-range missile to target deeper behind Russian lines. Broadly, Russia has maintained a “significant quantitative advantage” over Ukraine in terms of munitions, manpower and equipment, a NATO official said earlier this month. The military aid will be sourced from the US’ own stockpiles through a funding mechanism known as presidential drawdown authority, or PDA, and will be the first PDA package for Ukraine since March.

Persons: CNN —, Biden, Joe Biden, Bill Burns, Chris Cavoli, Sen, Mark Warner, we’ve, ” Warner, Bradley, ” Celeste Wallander Organizations: CNN, Senate, Army Tactical Missile Systems, US, CIA, NATO, Senate Intelligence, CBS, Pentagon, White, Command Locations: Ukraine, Moscow, Europe, Russia

☆ US intelligence report states Netanyahu’s viability to lead Israel is in jeopardy
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( Katie Bo Lillis | Michael Conte | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —The US intelligence community assesses Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s “viability as a leader” to be “in jeopardy,” according to its annual report on the national security threats facing the United States that was presented to Congress on Monday. The intelligence report notes that the Israeli population broadly supports the destruction of Hamas. It offers an around-the-world unclassified snapshot of how the intelligence community views the panoply of national security threats facing the United States. Beijing, according to the report, has more than tripled its export of goods with potential military use to Russia since Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. China has provided “economy and security assistance to Russia’s war in Ukraine through support to Russia’s defense industrial base, including by providing dual-use material and components for weapons,” the report states.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu’s, ”, ” Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Biden, Netanyahu, Israel, “, Chris Wray, I’ve, ” Wray, Sen, Mark Warner of, Republican Sen, Jim Risch of, ” Warner, ” Risch, “ I’ve, National Intelligence Avril Haines, Bill Burns, Burns, Ukraine “, you’re, ” Burns Organizations: CNN, ISIS, Hamas, Senate, Congressional, Republican, Warner, Democratic, National Intelligence, CIA Locations: United States, Israel, Gaza, Mark Warner of Virginia, Jim Risch of Idaho, Ukraine, Russia, Beijing, Moscow, China

The company also has promised to wall off U.S. user data from its parent company through a separate entity run independently from ByteDance and monitored by outside observers. TikTok says new user data is currently being stored on servers maintained by the software company Oracle. The AP-NORC poll shows TikTok users — about 170 million in the U.S., most of whom skew younger — are less likely to be worried about the app sharing American users' data, reflecting a previously felt generational divide. The Biden campaign has said it is using a separate cellphone for TikTok to isolate the app from other communications and was taking additional steps for protection. The poll also found that about 6 in 10 U.S. adults — and 41% of daily TikTok users — are “extremely or very concerned” about the amount of time children and teenagers spend on TikTok.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, TikTok, ”, Dan Ives, Biden, Mark Warner, ” Warner, “, Alex Haurek, Vivek Ramaswamy, influencers, —, it’s, Linley Sanders, ___ Organizations: The Associated Press, NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, U.S, Oracle, Foreign Investment, Commerce Department, Wedbush Securities, European Union, Senate, Virginia Democrat, Republican, Union Locations: U.S, Beijing, Virginia, India, Washington

ESPN, Fox and Warner Brothers Discovery announced plans on Tuesday to launch a sports streaming platform in the fall that will include offerings from at least 15 networks and all four major professional sports leagues. “This new sports service exemplifies our ability as an industry to drive innovation and provide consumers with more choice, enjoyment and value and we’re thrilled to deliver it to sports fans,” Warner Brothers Discovery CEO David Zaslav said in a statement. Photos You Should See View All 45 ImagesIt will include offerings from 15 linear networks — ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SEC Network, ACC Network, ESPNEWS, ABC, FOX, FS1, FS2, Big Ten Network, TNT, TBS, truTV — and ESPN+. The announcement of the bundle also comes as ESPN and Warner Brothers Discovery are preparing to enter negotiations to renew their NBA rights, which expire at the end of next season. ESPN has also been searching for strategic partners as it prepares to launch a direct-to-consumer product in the next year or two.

Persons: ”, David Zaslav, truTV —, “, Lachlan Murdoch, Bob Iger Organizations: ESPN, Fox, Warner Brothers Discovery, ” Warner Brothers Discovery, NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, WNBA, NASCAR, FIFA, ESPN2, ESPNU, SEC Network, ACC Network, ABC, FOX, Big Ten Network, TNT, TBS, Disney, ” Fox, ” Walt Disney Company Locations: Hulu

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Steve Wilks has had a roller coaster ride in his first season as defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers. But the season will end with Wilks calling plays in the Super Bowl with the task of slowing down Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. Wilks then joined the Niners staff, while the Panthers had a 2-15 season and fired coach Frank Reich after 11 games. Wilks is now headed to his third Super Bowl as an assistant coach, having lost previous trips in the 2006 season with Chicago and the 2015 season with Carolina when he was a defensive backs coach. While Wilks is focused on the task at hand, he did take time to send out a message on social media after the Niners won the NFC title game.

Persons: — Steve Wilks, DeMeco Ryans, Wilks, Patrick Mahomes, Jahmyr Gibbs, ” Wilks, We’ve, Kyle Shanahan, John Lynch, Nick Bosa, Fred Warner, “, ” Warner, hasn’t, ” Bosa, it’s, ”, Frank Reich, Lynch, “ He’s, ” Lynch Organizations: San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs, NFC, Detroit, Niners, NFL, Ryans, 49ers, Super, Panthers, Chicago, Carolina, Twitter, Warner Locations: SANTA CLARA, Calif, takeaways, Carolina

A classified briefing Tuesday on Ukraine devolved into a shouting match about border security as senators described a tense meeting that did little to break the Senate’s stalemate over whether to include tighter immigration policies in the aid package. The first question instead of asking our panelists, he called on Lankford to give a five-minute talk about the negotiations on border,” Schumer said. “It was just obvious, elephant in the room issue of the administration, in their supplemental request – the second-largest element in the supplemental request is for the border. Schumer said earlier Tuesday that Republicans are free to bring up a border security package as an amendment, and if it can get 11 Democratic votes, it can pass. “They have a golden opportunity if they wanted to do border,” Schumer said.

Persons: Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell, GOP Sen, James Lankford of, McConnell, ” Schumer, Arkansas Republican Sen, Tom Cotton, Cotton, “, Joe Biden, …, Chuck Schumer’s, Schumer –, Lindsey Graham of, ”, Lankford, ” Lankford, briefers, Sen, Kevin Cramer, you’ve, Republican Sen, Mitt Romney, ” Romney, ” Sen, Roger Marshall, Vladimir, Putin, Volodymyr, Zelensky, ” Marshall, Schumer, Mark Warner, ” Warner Organizations: Republican, GOP, CNN, Arkansas Republican, Republicans, Department of Homeland Security, DHS, Democratic Locations: Ukraine, Kentucky, James Lankford of Oklahoma, Schumer, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, North Dakota, Israel, Utah, Kansas, Virginia

Matthew Perry, the beloved actor who starred as Chandler Bing on “Friends,” has died. “We are devastated by the passing of our dear friend Matthew Perry. Matthew Perry at the 2022 GQ Men Of The Year Party on November 17, 2022 in West Hollywood, California. (l-r) Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, Matthew Perry (second row) Courteney Cox and Jennifer Aniston. Reisig & Taylor/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty ImagesOn “Friends,” Perry starred alongside Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer, Jennifer Aniston and Lisa Kudrow in the comedy about a tight knit group of friends living in New York City.

Persons: Matthew Perry, Chandler Bing, ”, Perry, Matthew, Warner, Brian Humphrey, Humphrey, Gregg DeGuire, Perry’s, Robert ”, “ Charles, Tracey Ullman, Jimmy Reardon, ’, Chandler, Joe Quincy, Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, Courteney Cox, Jennifer Aniston, Reisig, ” Perry, Doctors, “, haven’t, ’ ”, ” Matthew Perry, Mark J, Terrill, Molly Hurwitz, Molly, Matthew Perry’s, ” Maggie Wheeler, Chandler’s, Janice, Mathew Perry, ” Selma Blair, Matty, ” Michael Rapaport, Gary, Yvette Nicole Brown, Perry “ Organizations: Police, CNN, Los Angeles Times, Warner Bros . Television Group, ” Los Angeles Fire Department, Party, Getty, Warner Bros . Television, Warner Bros ., NBCU, Bank, Perry’s, “, CBC Locations: Los Angeles, West Hollywood , California, Williamstown , Massachusetts, Ottawa, Canada, Beverly Hills, New York City, Pasadena , California, American

The tweets from the official “Barbie” account responding to the unofficial memes were later deleted. While the “Barbenheimer” hashtag is not part of an official Warner Bros. marketing campaign, Warner Bros. Japan said it was “extremely regrettable” that the Barbie account had responded to the posts. “We take this situation very seriously and demand an appropriate response from the US headquarters,” Warner Bros. Japan said in a tweet Monday. The studio offers a sincere apology.”Warner Bros., like CNN, is a unit of Warner Bros. It’s a shame.”Another said they were “really disappointed” when they saw a post from the “Barbie” account, and would no longer buy a ticket.

Persons: Barbie ”, “ Oppenheimer, ”, Warner, Barbie, screengrabs, Margot Robbie, Cillian Murphy, Critics, “, “ Warner, –, Jeffrey J, Hall, “ Barbie ” Organizations: CNN, Warner Bros . Film, Warner Bros, Mattel, Twitter, US Air Force, “ Warner Brothers, Warner Bros ., Toho, Reuters Locations: Japan, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Asia, Tokyo

☆ US gathered detailed intelligence on Wagner chief’s rebellion plans but kept it secret from most allies
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( Natasha Bertrand Alex Marquardt Kylie Atwood Kevin Liptak | Natasha Bertrand | Alex Marquardt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Washington CNN —US intelligence officials were able to gather an extremely detailed and accurate picture of Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin’s plans leading up to his short-lived rebellion, including where and how Wagner was planning to advance, sources familiar with the matter told CNN. But the intelligence was so closely held that it was shared only with select allies, including senior British officials, and not at the broader NATO level, these sources said. Ukrainian officials were not told about the intelligence in advance, either, officials said, due primarily to fears that conversations between US and Ukrainian officials might be intercepted by adversaries. There were also signs that Wagner was stockpiling weapons and ammunition leading up to the rebellion, CNN has reported. “It’s an internal Russian matter,” the official said the Ukrainian officials were told, echoing what US and other Western officials have said publicly.

Persons: Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin’s, Prigozhin, Prigozhin’s, ”, Biden, Volodymyr Zelensky, Democratic Sen, Mark Warner of, “, “ Putin, ” Warner, Putin, –, Monday Organizations: Washington CNN, CNN, British, NATO, Russia’s Ministry of Defense, Russian Ministry of Defense, European, Democratic, Senate Intelligence, Kremlin, ” Locations: Rostov, Moscow, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Canada, Mark Warner of Virginia, Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, Russian Belgorod

☆ How a writers’ strike might affect your favorite TV shows
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Lisa Respers France | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

If production does come to a halt due to a writers’ strike, here’s where audiences may see an impact. Likewise, for variety shows such as “Saturday Night Live.”If past is precedent, you will see reruns in place of live shows. Programs like “Big Brother,” and “Celebrity Apprentice” helped to fill the gap of scripted shows whose productions paused during the strike. Andrew Cooper/NetflixMany shows on both linear and streaming platforms work far enough ahead that new episodes are already written. Some platforms, like Netflix, have promised they’ll be able to offer new TV shows and movies for quite some time.

☆ Woody Harrelson Can Play Anyone. It’s Being Himself That’s Hard.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( David Marchese | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +17 min

“I’m an A personality and a B facade,” says Woody Harrelson, and that’s as good an explanation for his charm and success as you’re likely to find. I don’t know. I could go hang off one of those big mountaintop-remover coal things, but that’s not going to stop it. I meet with the director, and I’m going to do it — they’re making it for like $500,000 — then the guy just goes with someone else! I have a gluttonous side, and I know that’s not going to help me be a spiritually better person.

☆ DOJ 'actively working' to brief senators on Biden and Trump classified documents
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-29 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Julie-Tsirkin-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Julie Tsirkin | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

Senators of both parties voiced frustration after they left a closed-door briefing last week with National Intelligence Director Avril Haines, who declined to show them copies of the classified documents discovered at Trump’s Florida resort and Biden’s office and Delaware home. Haines also declined to discuss the sensitive material, citing ongoing special counsel investigations, according to members of the Senate Intelligence Committee who attended the classified briefing. In a joint appearance Sunday on CBS News’ “Face the Nation,” Warner and Rubio called for immediate document oversight. That means we need these documents,” Warner said. Jordan this month announced the committee had opened an investigation into the Obama-era classified documents found in Biden's possession.

Haines also refused to discuss the sensitive material, citing ongoing special counsel investigations, according to members of the Senate Intelligence Committee who attending the classified briefing. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., was so furious after the briefing that he threatened to block presidential nominees or funding for some federal agencies until the Biden administration shows key lawmakers the classified documents. “Whether it’s blocking nominees or withholding budgetary funds, Congress will impose pain on the administration until they provide these documents. The bipartisan leaders of the Senate Intelligence panel emerged together from the secure briefing room and rejected the administration’s argument. “I’m not saying anything bad about the three [Biden, Trump and Pence], but classified information in the wrong hands can create problems for our country, put people at risk.

A "small number" of classified documents were discovered last week at former Vice President Mike Pence’s Indiana home, according to two letters Pence’s counsel sent to the National Archives obtained by NBC News on Tuesday. Pence's team “immediately” secured the classified documents in a locked safe, Jacob said. The transfer was facilitated by Pence’s personal attorney, who has experience in handling classified documents and was involved with the Jan. 16 discovery. Pence spokesman Devin O’Malley later told NBC News that “no potential classified documents” were found at the offices of Pence’s organization Advancing American Freedom after Pence’s team searched the offices and the former vice president’s home in Indiana. In a statement Tuesday, Comer said Pence reached out to the panel about classified documents found at his Indiana residence.

☆ House Republicans say TikTok made misleading claims in briefings on data handling
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-23 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Washington CNN Business —House Republicans say TikTok may have misled congressional staff in private briefings about the company’s handling of US user data, in a new letter to the short-form video app this week. And it foreshadows how House Republicans, having gained a majority in the 2022 midterm elections, are likely to approach TikTok in the coming months. “Both claims appear to be misleading at best, and at worst, false,” Comer and McMorris Rodgers wrote. Tuesday’s letter calls on TikTok to preserve a broad swath of documents, communications and other records, in a preview of how House lawmakers could investigate the company in the coming months. And it reiterated a half-dozen other requests for information the GOP lawmakers had sent to the company during the summer.

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