(WASHINGTON) — The remaining 12 hostages from a U.S.-based missionary group have been released by the Haitian gang that had held them for two months, Haitian authorities and the missionary group confirmed Thursday.
Their release was secured two months to the day after they were first detained by the notoriously violent group that had demanded $1 million for each of the 16 Americans and one Canadian, including five children.
“We glorify God for answered prayer—the remaining twelve hostages are FREE! Join us in praising God that all seventeen of our loved ones are now safe. Thank you for your fervent prayers throughout the past two months. We hope to provide more information as we are able,” Christian Aid Ministries said in a statement.
Haitian police confirmed to ABC News that the hostages were released Thursday morning in a suburb of the country’s capital Port-au-Prince, and a Haitian National Police patrol picked them up.
It’s unclear if that ransom was paid for their release.
The gang, known as 400 Mawozo, released two of the hostages — a couple — in late November as a humanitarian gesture because one of them was sick. Last week, three more missionaries were released, but Christian Aid Ministries declined to provide more information on their identities or how their release was secured.
All 17 missionaries were taken on Oct. 16 as they were returning from a visit to an orphanage in an area dominated by 400 Mawozo, one of the powerful criminal gangs that have operated with impunity in Haiti.
Haiti was devastated by a powerful 7.2-magnitude earthquake this August that killed over 2,200 people — and is still reeling from the assassination of its president in July, the constitutional crisis he had created, and the political chaos that has followed his killing.
President Joe Biden has said he was regularly updated on U.S. efforts to free the missionary group, which involved the FBI, the State Department, the U.S. embassy in Port-au-Prince, and other government agencies. It’s unclear if they played a role in their release Thursday.
The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Titled Fast & Loose, the collection includes previously unreleased shots of the “Ace of Spades” legends taken between 1977 and 1982 by photographer Graham Mitchell, who was also the band’s tour manager.
“I somehow knew how important it all was,” Mitchell says of taking the photos. “I knew I needed to capture at least some of those moments. I’d see the band to the stage and then immediately go out into the house, jostle with the punters, and get what I could.”
Mitchell adds that the photos reflect the oft-uttered Motörhead motto: “Take no f***ing prisoners.”
“It always made sense to me,” Mitchell says. “I like to think these photos capture that in all its (occasionally grotty but never boring) glory.”
Fast & Loose is out now in the U.S., and will be released in the U.K. on December 30.
Mariah Carey is helping London Underground’s commuters to feel a bit more festive on their travels by taking over the system’s intercom.
The Grammy winner revealed on Wednesday that she has teamed with Amazon Music UK to take over the transit system’s speakers to make sure travelers stay safe and “stand behind the yellow line.”
In a post on her socialmediasites, Mariah said she aims to “bring some festive cheer to the London Underground” with her new partnership, and wishes everyone using the transit system “Safe travels!!” She also shared a clip of her new greeting for passengers on London Tube lines. Unfortunately, she does not tell travelers to “Mind the gap.”
“Hi darlings, it’s Mariah,” her announcement over the PA system begins, as sleigh bells jingle in the background. “Make my wish come true and please stand behind the yellow line at all times. Proceed with caution. And don’t forget to ask Alexa to play ‘All I Want for Christmas’ on Amazon Music!”
The partnership is meant to promote her classic holiday song, “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” which is now the only holiday song to obtain RIAA-certified Diamond status.
No word yet if Mariah plans to take over any rail lines on the other side of the pond, but we’ll let you know when — or if — it happens.
A new series executive produced by Will Smith, BEL-AIR, will premiere on Super Bowl Sunday, February 13.
Set in modern-day America, BEL-AIR is a serialized one-hour dramatic analogue of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air that leans into the original premise: Will’s complicated journey from the streets of West Philadelphia to the gated mansions of Bel-Air. BEL-AIR will stream weekly shows on Peacock.
In other news, Meagan Good, star of the Amazon Prime TV series Harlem, is partnering with the World Vision charity to help reduce hunger around the world. She has designed the Tie that Binds wrap bracelet for the World Vision gift catalog. The sale of the bracelet “helps meet critical needs both today and tomorrow, equipping people to rebuild in the wake of disasters and helping empower communities to lift themselves out of poverty.”
“It’s about making change that continues to stretch out and pay it forward,” the 40-year-old actress tells Essence. “Help change someone’s life. Help save someone’s life. Help kids get an education, get food, make money and have a job. Help them have a whole other shot at life just by giving a gift to somebody you love.”
Finally, Diddy‘s Revolt TV is partnering with Target for a show promoting Black businesses. T-Pain will be among the judges on Bet on Black, a new multiscreen series where Black entrepreneurs pitch their businesses in the hopes of securing funding.
Bet on Black will premiere on Revolt’s digital platforms on January 10 at 9 p.m. ET and extend to all platforms starting January 11 at 9 p.m. ET.
(NEW YORK) — Defense attorneys for Ghislaine Maxwell, the longtime associate of serial sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, began to present their case on Thursday after a judge denied their request to allow three of their anticipated witnesses to testify under a pseudonym or using only their first names.
In her decision, Judge Alison Nathan of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York wrote that the court, “after significant independent research,” could not identify a single case in which a court has previously granted the use of pseudonyms to defense witnesses, leading her to believe that the request was unprecedented.
Nathan ruled that, unlike the government’s witnesses who were granted anonymity, the defense’s witnesses are expected to deny any sexual misconduct by Epstein and Maxwell, so they would not qualify as victims entitled to such protection.
The defense’s claims regarding the high-profile nature of the case failed to sway the judge.
“The Defense argues that anonymity is necessary to protect its witnesses from scrutiny and harassment because of the significant publicity this case has garnered,” Nathan wrote. “But these generalized concerns are present in every high-profile criminal case. They do not present the rare circumstances that prior courts have found justify the use of pseudonyms.”
The defense appears to be centered on downplaying Maxwell’s role in Epstein’s life and highlighting the fallibility of human memory following two weeks of testimony from multiple women who say Maxwell frequently facilitated, and sometimes participated in, their sexual abuse by Epstein when they were underage.
Thursday’s first witness, Maxwell’s former personal assistant Cimberly Espinosa, described Maxwell as Epstein’s “estate manager,” and said that while Maxwell and Epstein “behaved like a couple,” they never lived together, and that their relationship changed when they both began to date other people.
Espinosa described Epstein as “a giver” and “a kind person,” and testified that during her six years of employment, she never saw either Epstein or Maxwell behave inappropriately with underage girls.
During cross-examination, however, she acknowledged that she worked in Epstein’s office and never at his homes, where Maxwell’s accusers allege their abuse took place.
A subsequent witness, University of California-Irvine psychology professor Elizabeth Loftus, testified that sometimes people “remember things differently than they actually were.” Loftus, an expert on human memory, is not permitted to testify directly about any of Maxwell’s accusers, many of whom provided gut-wrenching tales of abuse — but she said that “emotion is no guarantee you’re dealing with an authentic memory.”
Human memory “doesn’t work like a recording device,” Loftus said, and people can “fall sway to misinformation and their memory becomes inaccurate.”
Maxwell faces a six-count indictment for allegedly conspiring with and aiding Epstein in his sexual abuse of underage girls between 1994 and 2004. She has been held without bail since her arrest in July 2020 and has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
It’s unclear whether Maxwell will take the stand during her trial. If convicted, she could spend decades in prison.
(NEW YORK) — Former NFL star Vincent Jackson died in February and now as his widow reflects on his health and life, doctors have confirmed Jackson had Stage 2 CTE, a degenerative brain disease associated with many former football players.
Lindsey Jackson sat down exclusively with ABC News’ Juju Chang in her first interview since her husband’s death and revealed the stunning diagnosis.
“Vincent was an amazing dad — he would do anything for his kids,” she said.
From the outside, Vincent Jackson appeared to be acing life after a storied NFL career. However, Lindsey Jackson said for years her husband suffered from memory loss, erratic behavior and kept turning to alcohol.
“He shared with me once that … alcohol made him feel calm and made him feel like himself. And that his brain was really fuzzy. And that this made it not fuzzy,” she said.
The couple decided they needed a break and he lived at a hotel. She said the family grew increasingly concerned about his mental health. Then, Vincent Jackson was found dead on Feb. 15.
“That was a hard day. We– had the sheriff come to our house and– let us know,” she said. “I had been telling the kids and letting them know that dad was really sick. And he’s gonna get better and he’s gonna … be back. And here they are in our living room and telling us that’s not the case.”
The family decided to donate his brain to researchers at Boston University’s Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) Center.
The results showed Vincent Jackson had Stage 2 CTE, which was a shock to his family since he was never diagnosed with a concussion during his 12 seasons as a wide receiver in the NFL.
“I felt just really bad for him. He didn’t know he had it. And I think had he known, he wouldn’t have felt so ashamed or alone,” Lindsey Jackson said tearfully. “No one should have to die in a room by himself.”
Dr. Ann McKee, the leading expert and researcher of CTE and neuropathologist at Boston University who diagnosed Vincent Jackson, further explained the findings.
“His was stage two because he had multiple areas of the brain that were affected on both sides of the brain … most of them in the frontal lobe,” she said. “They might have violent behaviors either physically or verbally. They’re often depressed and moody; they may or may not have mood swings.”
McKee said there is too much focus on concussions and not enough on the cumulative effects of head trauma over the years.
“I think the NFL needs to overhaul their awareness campaign to concentrate on repetitive head hits that don’t rise to the level of concussion,” McKee said.
In a statement provided to ABC News, the NFL said: “The NFL continues to mourn with the families of Vincent Jackson as well as Phillip Adams and all those who lost their lives in Rock Hill, South Carolina in April. These are incredibly tragic situations, and our hearts go out to all who have been affected. Phillip Adams and Vincent Jackson’s diagnoses underscore the need for independent scientific research related to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of traumatic brain injury (TBI), concussion and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). There is more to learn about head injury and related illness, and while the NFL is funding that important work, we also continue to make tangible progress in protecting players and making our game safer.”
The statement continued, “Additionally, in collaboration with the NFL Players Association, the NFL provides comprehensive mental wellness resources to current and former NFL players and the NFL family. These include mental health education programs, access to skilled clinicians and substance abuse experts and a platform that connects current and former players with trained counselors who are on-call 24 hours per day, year-round. We encourage current and former NFL players – and anyone who may be suffering – to seek help, prioritize their mental wellness and take advantage of mental health resources. It’s important to address.”
Lindsey Jackson said she is sharing her family’s story now in hopes that it could raise awareness and help other families connect the dots.
“In his mind, it would have explained why he couldn’t fix anything,” she said.
His family told ABC News the final autopsy will be out Thursday. Presently, CTE can only be diagnosed post-mortem.
(WASHINGTON) — Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch has dealt another blow to Texas abortion providers waging war against SB8 in order to restore a constitutional right for millions across the state.
After a sharply divided Supreme Court ruled last week that a very narrow challenge to the law, which is a near-total ban on abortion, could proceed, the providers asked the justices to expeditiously return the case to a lower court so the litigation could get underway.
Normally, there’s a 25-day delay between when the Court issues a decision and it’s formally registered.
Gorsuch, who authored the majority opinion in the case, granted the request on Thursday. But instead of directing the matter to a U.S. District Court where the proceedings began, he returned the case to the highly conservative 5th Circuit Court of Appeals — a move that could both slow things down and make it even more difficult for providers to prevail.
Texas has said it will ask the Appeals Court to seek clarification on SB8 from the Texas Supreme Court before moving the case forward. The abortion providers opposed that move as an unnecessary delay.
The Gorsuch decision is also striking in that it breaks with what appears to be Chief Justice John Roberts’ expectation that the case would have returned to the U.S. District Court for immediate relief. Roberts, in his opinion in the case, said that “the District Court should resolve this litigation and enter appropriate relief without delay.”
The federal judge who would have picked up the case was Robert Pittman, the same judge who ruled against SB8 in a sweeping opinion earlier this year.
Marc Hearron, senior counsel at the Center for Reproductive Rights, said in a comment, “The Supreme Court left only a small sliver of our case intact, and it’s clear that this part of the case will not block vigilante lawsuits from being filed. It’s also clear that Texas is determined to stop the plaintiffs from getting any relief in even the sliver of the case that is left.”
“Meanwhile,” he continued, “Texans have been without abortion access for more than 100 days, and there is no end in sight. The Supreme Court has let Texas nullify constitutional rights and upend our system of justice.”
The Texas law, which was allowed to go into effect this fall, bans physicians from providing abortions “if the physician detects a fetal heartbeat,” including embryonic cardiac activity, which can be as early as six weeks into a pregnancy.
While this has reportedly banned a majority of abortions that would’ve previously been performed, doctors in Texas are still providing abortions in accordance with the law.
Whole Woman’s Health, the independent provider organization with several locations in Texas that is fighting SB8, is now providing abortion care — in accordance with the law — for free. The clinic is able to do so because of grant funding, Whole Woman’s Health confirmed to ABC News.
ABC News’ Alexandra Svokos contributed to this report.
Pavlo Gonchar/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday permanently lifted its restriction on the abortion pill mifepristone that required providers to dispense the drug in person, allowing it to be delivered by mail.
The decision is subject to state laws that can criminalize the practice. But the FDA move could still have significant consequences for women, particularly in rural areas where it might be harder for women to find a clinic or doctor that will administer the drug in person.
In its updated guidance online, the FDA cited the need to “reduce burden on patient access and the health care delivery system.”
Abortion rights groups cheered the move but said more needs to be done to ease access.
“While the action today will go a long way for people seeking care, other barriers remain and must be lifted once and for all,” said Destiny Lopez, co-president of All* Above All.
Mifepristone, which blocks the hormone progesterone needed to support a pregnancy, is given to women within the first 10 weeks. The pill is taken with another drug called misoprostol, which causes cramping and bleeding to empty the uterus.
The FDA had stopped enforcing the in-person dispensing requirement for mifepristone last spring, citing the risks of COVID and noting the drug’s strong safety record since it hit the market more than two decades ago.
Women still must obtain the pill through a certified health care provider.
While abortion-rights advocates say the decision protects a woman’s right to privacy in obtaining a legal abortion, opponents insist the practice is dangerous and puts women’s lives at risk.
“The Biden administration’s reckless move puts countless women and unborn children in danger. Abortion activists’ longtime wish has been to turn every post office and pharmacy into an abortion center,” said Sue Liebel, state policy director for the antiabortion group Susan B. Anthony List.
Thursday’s decision doesn’t mean that every woman will be able to get the pill through the mail.
According to The Guttmacher Institute, which tracks state policies on the abortion pill, 19 states already require a provider to be physically present when administering the pill and prohibit telemedicine when prescribing it.
ABC News’ Alexandra Svokos contributed to this report.
SZA’s new single, “I Hate You,” has set an Apple Music record as the most-streamed R&B Song by a female artist in its first week.
“I Hate U” currently appears on Apple Music’s Top Songs chart in 102 countries, and peaked at number one in ten nations: the United States, Anguilla, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Guinea-Bissau, Papua New Guinea, and Trinidad and Tobago.
SZAdebuted “I Hate You” in August on an anonymous SoundCloud account. “Honestly this started out as an exercise. I just wanted somewhere to dump my thoughts w out pressure…y’all made it a thing and I’m not mad lmao. ask and u shall receive,” the nine-time Grammy nominee commented on Instagram.
(WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD FOR HAWKEYE EPISODES 4 AND 5) The directing team of Amber Templemore-Finlayson and Katie Ellwood — known professionally as Bert and Bertie — called the shots on two major MCU crossovers in their Disney+ series Hawkeye.
The first one — the appearance of Florence Pugh‘s Yelena — was revealed in the series’ fourth episode, and was somewhat expected if you watched the after-credits of Black Widow.
However, Wednesday’s episode ended with a bombshell. Not only did was it revealed the “Big Guy” alluded to by Jeremy Renner‘s Clint Barton was Marvel villain Kingpin, aka Wilson Fisk, but he was portrayed by Vincent D’Onofrio. D’Onofrio played Fisk to great acclaim in the Netflix series Daredevil, which wasn’t technically isn’t part of the MCU.
“I mean, it’s such a privilege, isn’t it?” Bert enthuses to ABC Audio. “Because you listen to…the fans and you listen to the theories and then to know that you are actually bringing it to them and satisfying, kind of, things that they want so desperately!”
She called it “incredible” to bring the characters to the show and said working with Pugh a “dream.” She added, “Knowing that we were going to introduce Kingpin and finding out what he meant to the fans was extraordinary for us.”
Bertie said of D’Onofrio, “He’s such a renowned actor…and just to have him on set and kind of knowing the Fisk character…He’s so brilliantly intense. As you’ve seen in Daredevil, he’s an actor who commits 150% to every choice he makes.”
Bert comments, “It’s such a pleasure as a director because you’re a guest in this universe, and then you’re given these gifts along the way.”
Hawkeye, which also stars Hailee Steinfeld, wraps up on Wednesday on Disney+.
