Escaped kangaroo from zoo caught by the tail after four-day search

Facebook / Durham Regional Police

(NEW YORK) — A kangaroo that escaped from a zoo has been found and safely captured by authorities after a four-day search, police say.

Police officers for the Durham Regional Police in Ontario, Canada, were on what authorities called a “roo-tine” patrol when they received a report of a kangaroo sighting in Oshawa — approximately 43 miles northeast of Toronto.

The kangaroo initially went missing from a nearby zoo at the end of last week and the search for the missing marsupial continued through the weekend until authorities — ironically the same ones who initially received the missing kangaroo report — were deployed for the rescue mission after it was spotted, police said.

“Once officers located the kangaroo, they followed her to the area of Wilson Rd N and Winchester Rd E when it appeared the kangaroo stopped to take a little break,” said the Durham Regional Police in a statement following the animal rescue. “While doing so, the officers managed to sneak up behind her and grab her tail.”

The officers were briefed prior to the rescue on “safe kangaroo capture techniques” and were informed that the safest way to catch a kangaroo is to grab the animal by the tail.

“The kangaroo gave up and surrendered peacefully to police officers,” police said. “She then received a ride in one of our K9 kennels back to the zoo where she is being examined. Her four day adventure has come to an end and she will continue on with her journey to Quebec in the near future.”

The marsupial will be safely returned to her enclosure which will, most likely, have added security to prevent her from escaping again.

Said the Durham Regional Police: “Thank you to the community and all the volunteer networks that have come together over the last few days to bring this situation to a happy conclusion.”

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Bublé? Groban? Celine? David Foster reveals which of his Christmas album productions is the ultimate holiday record

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If you have a favorite Christmas album, chances are super-producer David Foster was behind it: His resume includes producing hit holiday albums by Michael Bolton, Celine Dion, Barbra Streisand, Andrea Bocelli, Michael Bublé and Josh Groban. But if you want Foster to point to which of his productions is the ultimate Christmas album … it’s Bublé all the way.

“They all have a different place in my heart … they all did extremely well, like, millions and millions of copies each,” David tells ABC Audio. “But I think when you drop the needle on, and when you hear Michael Bublé go, ‘It’s beginning to look a lot,’ that just feels like Christmas to me. And that album … it sells a million copies every year.”

David says Michael’s 2011 bestselling holiday album is so quintessentially Christmas because of his voice.

“Nobody sounds like Michael Bublé,” Foster says. “He just sounds like Christmas. He’s got a combination of Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin and Elvis Presley all mixed up into one. And it’s just, his vocals are just insanely great.”

However, David’s quick to note that Josh Groban‘s 2007 holiday album was no slouch either, especially when it comes to sales.

“Josh’s album Noël was the biggest-selling overall album of 2007, let alone just Christmas,” he says. “So, I dunno, they’ve all just done so well, and I’m proud of all them.”

David is also proud of Christmas Songs, the newly expanded version of the EP he and his wife, Katharine McPhee, released last year. It features their single “Carol of the Bells,” as well as favorites like “Jingle Bell Rock” and the modern Christmas classic “My Grown-Up Christmas List,” which David co-wrote in 1989.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

After ‘Typhoons’ “broadened the palette,” Royal Blood employs “all these different gears” on latest album

Warner Records

On Royal Blood‘s new album, Back to the Water Below, the band continues to experiment and tinker with their sound after they took an unexpected turn into dance-influenced music with their last record, 2021’s Typhoons. Speaking with ABC Audio, frontman Mike Kerr shares how making Typhoons opened the duo’s eyes to different avenues they could pursue with future music.

“It freed us up to not let our limitations kind of hold us back,” Kerr says.

”Typhoons just invited the right amount of extra layers and production, and it broadened the palette,” he adds. “And I think we kind of walked into [Back to the Water Below] with that same palette in our hand.”

Not only that, but Royal Blood felt freer to select and combine the colors on that palette in different ways. As a result, Back to the Water Below is perhaps Royal Blood’s most dynamic and diverse-sounding record.

“[An album] doesn’t have to be all one thing,” Kerr muses. “That was quite liberating for us, to kind of have all these different gears and use all of them.”

Overall, Kerr felt “empowered” to keep experimenting with Back to the Water Below coming off of Typhoons, which helped reinforce why he wanted to make music in the first place.

“I felt like, ‘You know what? We can do whatever we want as long as we like it,'” Kerr says. “That mantra is the same as it was at the beginning, and it shouldn’t be any different now. It should be an indulgent affair.”

Back to the Water Below is out now.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

The Beatles join audio platform Yoto

ABC

If you’ve been dying to get your children to appreciate The Beatles, now’s your chance. The legendary band’s music has been added to the audio platform Yoto, which is aimed at children.

Three new Yoto cards of music from The Beatles and Paul McCartney are now available. Two of them feature music from The Beatles’ 1962-1966 (The Red Album) and 1967-1970 (The Blue Album), including “Love Me Do,” “Can’t Buy Me Love” and “I Want To Hold Your Hand” from Red and “Penny Lane,” “All You Need Is Love,” “Hey Jude” and “Let It Be” from Blue.

The third, titled Paul McCartney: Say Hello to Paul McCartney, features a McCartney curated collection, including the themes to Paul’s children’s books, Hey Grandude and Hey Nandude.

All three cards are available now for $14.99 each.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Jonathan Majors trial: Prosecutors allege “manipulative pattern” of abuse toward ex-girlfriend

Fatih Aktas/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

During opening statements in Jonathan Majors‘ criminal trial Monday, a prosecutor said the Marvel star inflicted a “manipulative pattern of psychological abuse” and physical abuse on his former girlfriend that culminated with a March 25 assault in a for-hire Cadillac Escalade — after she caught him cheating — that left her with bruising, substantial pain and a laceration to her ear.

Prosecutor Michael Perez said the actor’s girlfriend, Grace Jabbari, saw a message pop up on Majors’ phone from a woman named Cleopatra that said “wish I was kissing you.” When Jabbari grabbed the phone to read the message, Majors “began grabbing Ms. Jabbari’s body,” Perez said.

“He grabbed and squeezed her hand, her right middle finger specifically” and then “struck a blow that swiped across the right side of her head,” according to Perez.

Meanwhile, the defense claimed Monday that Jabbari slapped, clawed and otherwise physically attacked Majors so blatantly that night the driver of their for-hire SUV called her “psycho girl.”

Defense attorney Priya Chaudhry said Jabbari emerged unscathed and unhurt while Majors was left bloodied and ran to a hotel to hide from her.

Jabbari was seen on video “drinking champagne and doing shots” at a club for the next three hours, “taking smiling photos” with people she had just met, according to Chaudhry.

“This is a case about the end of a relationship, not about a crime,” Chaudhry said.

“Even though the world may see him as a movie star, he is a normal person,” Chaudhry said of Majors. “His career was unstoppable until he ended the relationship with Ms. Jabbari and she made these false allegations.”

Prior to the start of opening statements, the two sides agreed to consolidate the multiple assault counts against Majors into a single misdemeanor count. He also faces aggravated harassment charges.

The 34-year-old actor has pleaded not guilty. He faces up to a year in jail if convicted.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Watch Les Claypool teach Geddy Lee to excavate in clip from ‘Are Bass Players Human Too?’

Paramount+

In the upcoming docuseries Are Bass Players Human Too?, Rush‘s Geddy Lee interviews fellow bassists about their lives outside playing the four-string. That apparently includes learning how to operate heavy machinery from PrimusLes Claypool.

Consequence.net has premiered a clip from the show, in which Claypool introduces Lee to his own personal excavator.

“I come from a long line of auto mechanics,” Claypool shares. “My dad was a mechanic, my grandpa was a mechanic, my uncles were mechanics. I just like cool machinery.”

“I’m trying to show the world that a bass player can do many things,” Lee remarks. “This, I didn’t expect, I have to admit.”

Are Bass Players Human Too? premieres Tuesday, December 5, on Paramount+. Other guests include Nirvana‘s Krist Novoselic, Metallica‘s Robert Trujillo and Hole‘s Melissa Auf der Maur.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Graham Nash hopes for a “Better Life” in new Pass It On video

Harry Herd/Redferns

Two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Graham Nash is featured in a new video for the nonprofit Pass It On, which uses uplifting videos to inspire people to act with kindness, respect and generosity.

The latest video from the group features Nash’s tune “A Better Life” from his May release, Now.

“In a way, ‘Better Life’ is kind of an extension of my song ‘Teach Your Children,’” Nash says in the video, referring to the song made famous by his band, Crosby, Stills & Nash. “Even though they may be only 25% of our population, children are 100% of our future and we have to realize that. We have to take care of our kids.” 

He adds, “Life is full of actions, you can think and you can talk all you want, do something. And even at 81 you can still rock. … Let’s make this world a better place.”

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

What to know about the 4th Republican presidential debate

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(WASHINGTON) — An even smaller field of Republican presidential candidates will face off in the fourth primary debate on Wednesday in Alabama.

Viewers will see fewer hopefuls on stage after South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott suspended his campaign last month. The party’s higher thresholds to qualify may also prevent some candidates from making the cut.

Former President Donald Trump, the front-runner, according to polls, is once again not expected to participate. He’ll be fundraising instead.

Here’s what to know about the fourth Republican presidential primary debate.

How to watch the debate

The debate — which will be held at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa — will air on NewsNation, a relative newcomer in the 24-hour cable news landscape, at 8 p.m. EST on Wednesday. It will also be broadcast in the Eastern and Central time zones on the company’s broadcast television network, The CW.

The faceoff will be livestreamed on NewsNation’s website as well as on Rumble.

The moderators will be Elizabeth Vargas, the anchor of NewsNation’s “Elizabeth Vargas Reports”; Megyn Kelly, the former Fox News and NBC News anchor who now hosts “The Megyn Kelly Show” on Sirius XM; and Eliana Johnson, editor-in-chief of The Washington Free Beacon.

ABC News will live blog the action on the debate stage and provide key takeaways while 538 will share analysis.

Who will be participating in the presidential debate?

It appears that at least three candidates will make the fourth debate, which, as with previous debates, has an increasingly heightened threshold to make the stage. The deadline to qualify is Monday night.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy all appear to have met the polling and donor requirements set by the Republican National Committee.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie qualified for the third debate, but his participation in the fourth debate is not yet certain. He seems to still be below the RNC polling criteria to participate.

The RNC has not yet confirmed the qualified candidates.

Scott, who also participated in the third debate, suspended his campaign in mid-November.

How do candidates qualify for the fourth debate stage?

The RNC upped its qualification criteria for candidates to participate in the fourth debate.

This time, the national party said participants need to be polling at 6% or higher in two national polls or in one national poll and at least 6% in one early poll from two separate “carve out” states, which include Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina.

The polling requirement is an increase from the 4% needed for the third GOP debate.

Additionally, to make the stage, the White House hopefuls must now have 80,000 unique donors that include at least 200 people in 20 or more states or territories

All candidates must also sign a pledge to support the party’s eventual 2024 nominee if they want to participate.

The candidates must meet the requirements no later than 48 hours before the debate.

Will Donald Trump participate in the debate?

Trump did not attend the first three debates, indicating he saw no point given his large polling lead — and it appears he won’t participate in the fourth one either.

“President Trump’s statement was that he would not attend the debates,” adviser Chris LaCivita said in the days following the second debate. “Plural … And that’s his position until it’s not.”

Trump is scheduled to be at a campaign fundraiser in Florida on the day of the debate.

Appearing on Fox News on Wednesday, Haley urged Trump to stop “hiding” and join in on the debates.

“He needs to get on the debate stage. He needs to confront us,” she said. “He needs to let us, you know, talk about the differences and go forward.”

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Music notes: Selena Gomez, Taylor Swift and more

Selena Gomez attended the 2023 Academy Museum Gala on Sunday with her friends Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz to celebrate the anniversary of when they met. The trio first connected at the same event the previous year and have since become close pals. Brooklyn posted photos with Selena and Nicola on Instagram, writing, “Our anniversary xx,” in the caption.

What if she told you none of it was accidental? Taylor Swift is on the short list to become Time‘s Person of the Year for 2023Time credits this to her wildly successful Eras Tour, its accompanying record-breaking concert film, and the release of her rerecorded versions of Speak Now and 1989. She previously graced the cover of Time‘s Person of the Year in 2017 alongside other “silence breakers” who spoke out about sexual misconduct.

Speaking of Taylor, she has responded to Mariska Hargitay naming her cat after her song “Karma.” “Are you serious?!!!! Nothing has ever come more full circle,” Taylor commented on Mariska’s Instagram post. “LOVE THIS SO MUCH!!” She ended her caption with a cat with heart eyes emoji, naturally.

Harry Styles‘ brand Pleasing is doubling down on the three new scents used for its first-ever fragrance collection. The smells will now be available to enjoy in scented candles, named to match the fragrances: Rivulets, Closeness and Bright, Hot. They’re available for purchase now from Pleasing’s online store.

Yeah! Usher posted a TikTok dancing with his “Standing Next to You” collaborator, Jung Kook, on Sunday. The duo danced to Usher’s hit track “Yeah!” Usher also teased that there is more in the works from them. “Stay tuned,” he captioned the video.   

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Duran Duran to headline 2024 Cruel World Festival

ABC/Randy Holmes

Duran Duran is set to headline the annual Cruel World Festival, happening May 11 in Pasadena, California.

The festival features a lineup heavy on acts from or influenced by the ’80s alternative and new wave scene. Other artists on the bill include BlondieSimple MindsSoft CellAdam AntGary Numan performing his 1979 album The Pleasure PrincipleThe Alarm and The Motels, along with Interpol, Placebo, Ministry and Jesus and Mary Chain.

Registration is now open, with ticket passes going on sale Friday, December 8, at 12 p.m. PT. The full lineup and all ticket info can be found at CruelWorldFest.com.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.