(MIAMI) — Formula 1 fans are revving up for this weekend as the world’s most popular motor sport heads to Miami for the first time.
The Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix will take place on Sunday but fans can enjoy the action beginning on Friday, when racers descend on the track for practice laps. Then, on Saturday, qualifying events will be held to determine the starting order for Sunday’s big race.
But having a front seat to the action will cost you — tickets are going for up to $10,000.
ABC News’ Victor Oquendo was on the track Friday to preview the race and what fans can expect from the Grand Prix:
Colombian Presidency/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
(NEW YORK) — An alleged Colombian drug lord believed to control the “largest and most powerful cocaine trafficking and paramilitary organization in Colombia” arrived in New York Thursday to face multiple criminal charges, according to federal prosecutors in Brooklyn.
Dairo Usuga, who is also known as Otoniel, was flown from Colombia to John F. Kennedy Airport overnight and made his initial appearance Thursday in Brooklyn federal court where he has been accused of overseeing the production, purchase and transfer of multiton cocaine shipments from Colombia and Mexico into the United States over many years, according to court records.
Usuga pleaded not guilty to federal charges and was ordered detained during his brief first court appearance.
“His face said it all,” said Ricky Patel, deputy agent in charge from Homeland Security Investigations. “He walked off the jet a defeated man.”
Usuga was arrested in Colombia in October 2021 at the request of the United States.
“Prior to his capture by the Colombian National Police, the defendant was the principal leader of a transnational criminal organization known as the Clan del Golfo (‘CDG’), the largest and most powerful cocaine trafficking and paramilitary organization in Colombia,” prosecutors said in a March court filing.
“In furtherance of its drug trafficking activities, the CDG, at the direction of the defendant, also engaged in repeated acts of violence, including murders, assaults, kidnappings, torture and assassinations against Colombian law enforcement officers, Colombian military personnel, rival drug traffickers and paramilitaries, potential witnesses and civilians,” the filing continued.
Usuga is charged with supervising and managing a continuing criminal enterprise, international cocaine distribution conspiracy and use of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.
CDG “uses violence and intimidation to control the narcotics trafficking routes, cocaine processing laboratories, speedboat departure points, and clandestine landing strips,” according to the State Department.
For 20 years, Usuga sat atop Colombia’s most powerful drug cartel as it flooded the United States with cocaine and made billions, federal prosecutors said.
Under Usuga’s leadership, Clan del Golfo had what prosecutors called a “staggering capacity” for violence.
“His paramilitary organization, thousands of soldiers, including sicarios, or hitman as they’re called, murdered, assaulted, kidnapped and tortured,” U.S. Attorney Breon Peace said during a news conference announcing the extradition.
During a turf war with a rival criminal organization for drug trafficking routes, homicides shot up 443% over two years, according to the federal government.
Prior to his capture, the State Department had been offering a reward of $5 million.
(NEW YORK) — Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “special military operation” into neighboring Ukraine began on Feb. 24, with Russian forces invading from Belarus, to the north, and Russia, to the east. Ukrainian troops have offered “stiff resistance,” according to U.S. officials.
The Russian military last month launched a full-scale ground offensive in eastern Ukraine’s disputed Donbas region, attempting to capture the strategic port city of Mariupol and to secure a coastal corridor to the Moscow-annexed Crimean Peninsula.
Here’s how the news is developing. All times Eastern:
May 06, 8:28 am
Video shows explosions, smoke at Mariupol steel plant
Video circulating online shows explosions and smoke coming from the Azovstal Iron and Steel Works plant in Mariupol.
The footage was released Thursday by the Azov Regiment, a far-right group now part of the Ukrainian military that was among the units defending Mariupol and is holed up inside the Azovstal plant with others. In a statement alongside the video posted on Telegram, the group said that Russian forces were keeping the plant “under heavy fire,” using “aircraft, artillery and infantry.”
ABC News was unable to verify the date that the video was taken.
In recent days, Ukraine and Russia have offered conflicting accounts of what’s taking place at the Azovstal plant. Ukrainian fighters claimed that Russian forces started storming the plant this week, which Russia has denied and instead claimed that its troops have “securely blocked” the sprawling industrial site.
Hundreds of Ukrainian fighters and civilians are said to be trapped inside the Azovstal plant, the last pocket of resistance in Mariupol as Russian forces declare full control over the strategic Ukrainian port city.
May 06, 7:51 am
Russia says war in Ukraine is ‘going to plan’
Russia’s so-called special military operation in neighboring Ukraine is going according to plan, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
“The operation has been going to plan,” Peskov said during a press briefing in Moscow on Friday.
When asked about reports that Putin’s inner circle was not informed about the start of the operation, Peskov told reporters: “As you understand, naturally, information about the special military operation cannot be shared widely the day before it begins.”
“That is because, clearly, such classified information is always shared with a rather limited circle of persons. This is an absolutely normal practice,” he added. “The very essence of this operation does not imply that information about it will be shared widely.”
May 05, 10:49 pm
US shared intel with Ukraine that helped sink Russian flagship Moskva last month, officials say
The U.S. shared intelligence with Ukraine that helped it sink the flagship of Russia’s Black Sea fleet, the Moskva, last month, according to two U.S. officials.
The Ukrainians, who have their own intelligence capabilities, had tracked the Moskva independently, though, and the U.S. did not provide “specific targeting information,” according to one of the officials.
“We did not provide Ukraine with specific targeting information for the Moskva. We were not involved in the Ukrainians’ decision to strike the ship or in the operation they carried out,” Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said in a statement Thursday. “We had no prior knowledge of Ukraine’s intent to target the ship. The Ukrainians have their own intelligence capabilities to track and target Russian naval vessels, as they did in this case.”
The U.S. official also noted that: “We do provide a range of intelligence to help the Ukrainians understand the threat posed by Russian ships in the Black Sea and to help them prepare to defend against potential sea-based assaults. Many of the missiles fired at Ukraine have come from Russian ships in the Black Sea, and those ships could be used to support an assault on cities like Odesa.”
NBC News first reported this intel.
-ABC News’ Ben Gittleson
May 05, 9:05 pm
US ambassador to UN calls out countries for remaining neutral
Presiding over her first open meeting of the United Nations Security Council since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield implored representatives still clinging to neutrality to speak out against Russian aggression.
“The truth is well known. Russia is the only perpetrator of this war. So it’s hard to understand why some council members continue to call on all parties to desist,” Thomas-Greenfield said, calling out countries like Brazil, India, and to some extent — China.
“Let’s call a spade a spade. Members should call on Russia explicitly to stop its aggression against Ukraine,” she said.
Speaking in her capacity as the United States’ permanent representative and not as the temporary president of the council, Thomas-Greenfield lamented that Russian envoys had repeatedly used the body to spread disinformation.
“Three months ago, Russian representatives told this council they had no intention to invade Ukraine. Now, Russia claims the attacks aren’t real or never happened,” she said. “Russia even claims that Ukraine is attacking itself, that they bombed their own buildings, attacked their own people and assaulted their own democracy. These lies defy all logic, all evidence and common sense.”
(NEW YORK) — Prince Harry and Meghan plan to travel to the United Kingdom next month to attend the public celebrations for Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee, a first for the couple since stepping down from their senior royal roles two years ago.
Harry and Meghan, the duke and duchess of Sussex, also plan to bring their children, 3-year-old Archie and 10-month-old Lilibet, a spokeswoman for the Sussexes confirmed Friday.
“Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are excited and honoured to attend The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations this June with their children,” the spokeswoman said in a statement to ABC News.
The trip will mark the first time the California-based family has traveled to the U.K. together.
Archie, who is celebrating his third birthday Friday, was born in the U.K. but has not traveled back there publicly with his parents since they moved to California in 2020.
Lilibet was born last June in Santa Barbara, California, making her the first senior royal baby born in the United States, and the first great-grandchild of the queen to be born outside of the United Kingdom.
The Sussexes’ attendance at The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebration in June will also mark Harry and Meghan’s first public, joint return to the U.K.
The couple made a private stop in the U.K. earlier this month to visit Queen Elizabeth, their first in-person visit with the queen together in two years.
The celebration of Queen Elizabeth’s 70 years on the throne will be a multi-day celebration that is scheduled to include, among other things, a public concert, a church service and the annual Trooping the Colour parade.
Because they are no longer senior working royals, Harry and Meghan will not be part of the traditional Buckingham Palace balcony appearance royal family members make during Trooping the Colour, according to a Buckingham Palace spokesperson.
Harry’s uncle, Prince Andrew, who in February agreed to settle a sexual assault lawsuit, will also not be present on the balcony as he is also no longer a senior working member of the royal family.
“After careful consideration, The Queen has decided this year’s traditional Trooping the Colour balcony appearance on Thursday 2nd June will be limited to Her Majesty and those Members of the Royal Family who are currently undertaking official public duties on behalf of The Queen,” a palace spokesperson said in a statement.
Among the royals who will join Queen Elizabeth on the balcony will be Harry’s father, Prince Charles, and his wife, Camilla, duchess of Cornwall, and Harry’s older brother, Prince William, and his wife, Kate, duchess of Cambridge, and their three children, according to the palace.
Harry and Meghan’s return to the U.K. will undoubtedly put a spotlight on the tensions Harry has faced with his father and brother, whom he is known to have seen in-person only a few times since leaving his royal role.
When interviewed earlier this month while at the Invictus Games in the Netherlands, Harry did not answer a question about his relationship with his brother, William, and their father, Charles.
“He completely avoided the question. He changed the subject,” said ABC News royal contributor Victoria Murphy. “That really gives us a huge amount of insight into the fact that, clearly, significant bridges still need to be built there.”
Harry also raised questions and drew some backlash from the British press with his comments in the same interview about protecting the queen. The interview took place just a few days after he and Meghan visited her in the U.K.
When asked about his visit with the queen, Harry told NBC News, “Being with her, it was great. It was just so nice to see her. … She’s on great form.”
“I’m just making sure that she’s, you know, protected and got the right people around her,” said Harry, who described his relationship with his grandmother as “really special,” adding, “We talk about things that she can’t talk about with anybody else.”
The royal family has so far not issued any official response to Prince Harry’s comments.
Camila Cabello joined the ever-growing list of celebrities — both male and female — calling upon the Supreme Court to uphold Roe V. Wade, the 1973 decision that made abortion a constitutional right.
The “Bam Bam” singer was honored at Variety‘s Power of Women event on Thursday, where she was recognized as one of the strongest female voices in media and entertainment. Camila used the moment to speak out about reproductive rights and why they need to be protected.
“It’s atrocious,” she said of the court possibly striking down Roe V. Wade. “Obviously, it’s going to affect poor women the most, because women that have resources — even like me — will be able to handle things if they’re needed.”
The Grammy nominee continued, “The idea of having one moment transform the course of a woman’s life is tragic. And it’s tragic [that] the people affected are not having a say.”
Camila hopes this re-energizes voters and encourages them to “get involved” in all elections. She warned local elections are just as important as the rest because it ensures, “We have state and local legislators that are representing our interest.”
“Obviously, donating can make a difference,” she said of other ways to support the protection of reproductive rights. “And also being loud and angry about it.”
She mentioned during her acceptance speech that the night’s ceremony came “at a moment when women’s rights in America face greater threats than at any time in the last 50 years.”
Camila also highlighted the importance of mental health advocacy and why she founded the Healing Justice Project last year, which aims to provide activists with mental health support. Variety honored the “Havana” singer for her activism and philanthropy in supporting mental health initiatives.
In the follow-up to her 2018 self-titled debut album, Ella Mai dropped off her latest project Heart on My Sleeve on Friday.
The new 15-track LP is a collection of heartfelt R&B tracks with features from Roddy Rich, Lucky Daye and Latto.
“Congrats on your new album frienddd @ellamai so happy to be a part of it!” Latto wrote on Instagram, sharing a snapshot image of her collaboration with the Canada-born singer on “Didn’t Say.”
Ella Mai teased the album’s arrival by releasing singles “DFMU” and “Leave You Alone” earlier this year. She then officially announced its release in March saying, “i poured my whole heart into this album, more so than ever before. i am overly excited for this sophomore journey. let’s do it all over again!”
Heart on My Sleeve showcases a more vulnerable side to the 27-year-old “Boo’d Up” singer. “The album takes you on a love rollercoaster through the affairs of the heart, ups and downs of a relationship and all the complexities that are the grey areas in between,” she said in a press release.
Mother, tell your children not to hold out hope for another Danzig tour or album.
“I don’t think I’m going to tour anymore,” frontman Glenn Danzing tells Revolver. “I’m just going to fly out to a show here or there. I’ll maybe be down to do some one-offs. But I just don’t see myself getting on a tour bus anymore.”
Danzig does, however, refer to his just-launched run of 10 North American dates as “not really much of a tour,” so perhaps his definition of “tour” is relative.
As for future Danzig music, the Misfits icon says he writes “songs here and there, but “[doesn’t] know” if he’s “ever going to do another album again.”
“I might do an EP or I might just record some songs and put them out for free on the internet,” Danzig says. “We’ll see. It could be that right now I’m just not interested, and then a month from now I’ll be in the studio. It depends.”
“I’ve got to be excited about working in order to go do it,” he adds. “And right now I’m not that excited.”
Danzig’s current “tour,” or whatever he wants to call it, concludes May 19 in Austin, Texas. Meanwhile, Misfits are set to headline Chicago’s Riot Fest this September.
(NOTE LANGUAGE) Thursday’s seventh night of the streaming service’s Netflix Is a Joke festival featured an event called “Cobra Kai, Live and Bada**”, held at Los Angeles’ Microsoft Center.
Cast members were on hand for the celebration of the series, where it was announced that the fifth season of the Emmy-nominated show will be released September 9.
The trailer for the fifth season was also revealed and subsequently posted online. The new footage shows Thomas Ian Griffith‘s Terry Silver on the march. “Our competition has closed up shop,” he gloats.
“This is what we’re up against, Ralph Macchio‘s Daniel LaRusso says. “…I have to take him down.”
“You’re playing with fire, Danny Boy,” Silver teases.
Netflix teases, “Following the shocking results of the All Valley Tournament, Season 5 finds Terry Silver expanding the Cobra Kai empire and trying to make his ‘No Mercy’ style of karate the only game in town. With Kreese behind bars and Johnny Lawrence setting karate aside to focus on repairing the damage he’s caused, Daniel LaRusso must call on an old friend for help.”
The announcement follows the release of the first track from the album, “evergone,” which was inspired by the loss of Christina’s daughter Rosie. The album will be Christina’s first studio album since 2013’s Head or Heart, not counting the two albums of lullabies she recorded for her daughters: Songs for Carmella and Songs for Rosie.
She’s also dropped a new track, “mothers.” The perfect song for this Sunday’s Mother’s Day, it’s a love letter to moms everywhere, especially those who are struggling. “This one’s for you/’cause I’ve been there too,” Christina sings. Her daughter Carmella, who’s four, adorably chimes in at the end, “I love you, mom.”
Carmella also contributed to Songs for Rosie, and Christina tells ABC Audio she’s amazed at what a naturally gifted singer her daughter is.
“I hate to be like a stage mom, you know, but like, she’s so talented!” laughs Christina. “Like, you can’t obviously make someone that good at singing. She just really is good at singing!”
“I noticed that, I feel like, when she was, like, maybe one, because now she’s four. But when she was like one, one-and-a-half, she learned every word to the Taylor Swift song [‘Love Story’] — I don’t even know the words! She knew every word to it! And I was like, ‘OK!’ And then I just sort of watched it evolve.”
Christina adds that Carmella “definitely has interest” in following in her mom’s footsteps.
Adele is grateful she’s another year older and wiser. The powerhouse singer turned 34 on Thursday and took to social media to reflect on why this milestone is so important to her.
“What a difference a year makes,” she wrote on Instagram and shared two makeup-free selfies that showed off her fine lines and freckled skin. “If time keeps healing and smoothing out all the creases in my life like it does as the years fly by, then I can’t wait to be 60! I’ve never been happier!”
Reflecting on her life so far, Adele continued, “So many lessons, so many blessings to be grateful for. This is 34, and I love it here! Thank you for the birthday love as always.”
Much has changed in Adele’s life over the past few years. She divorced her husband of three-years, Simon Konecki, in 2021 and released the emotionally charged album 30, which documented that journey. The former couple share a young son, Angelo.
30 went onto become 2021’s best-selling album, despite being released in November, and has already generated serious awards buzz.
Adele is now romantically linked to sports agent Rich Paul.
