Photo Credit: Erica Hernandez | Courtesy: Interscope Records
Selena Gomez delighted fans on Thursday by releasing her brand-new single, “999,” and its accompanying music video.
The gentle Spanish ballad, which features vocals from Colombian singer Camilo, follows two love-struck individuals pining for one another and living through fantasies in their head about what would happen should they make a move.
The two agree that they don’t want to take it slow in their theoretical relationship, and see it lasting forever.
Selena Gomez praised her collaborator in a statement obtained by ABC Audio, declaring, “Camilo is a fantastic songwriter and singer who proudly wears his heart on his sleeve which is something we connected on immediately. I couldn’t have been more excited to collaborate with him.”
Camilo also gushed about the “Lose You to Love Me” singer, and expressed, “Working with Selena Gomez is a tremendous honor and a huge moment in my career. From the beginning, 999 was written based on the color of her voice, and it wouldn’t have existed if it wasn’t for the dream of this collaboration.” He also said he’d been wanting to work with Gomez for some time.
Gomez previously opened up about why she’s shifted toward making Spanish music, telling Apple Music’s Zane Lowe in January, “I just hope that people understand how much I put my heart into this, and how amazing I feel about it… I’m targeting my heritage, and I couldn’t be more excited.”
One year down, a lifetime to go! Katy Perry is celebrating her baby girl’s first birthday.
Taking to Twitter on Thursday, the American Idol judge gushed, “1 year ago today is the day my life began… Happy first Birthday my Daisy Dove, my love [red heart emoji].”
Daisy is the first child for Perry and her fiancé, Orlando Bloom. Bloom also shares 10-year-old son Flynn with ex-wife Miranda Kerr.
Bachelor alums Ashley Iaconetti and Jared Haibon are having a baby boy!
The couple revealed the exciting news during an Amazon Live on Thursday. After giving a drumroll that consisted of him banging on the counter with his hands, Jared exclaimed, “We’re having…a boy!” as he pulled down a blue balloon that read “boy.”
Jared also shared that the pair, who wed August 2019, found out the sex in an email and that they already have a name picked out for their bundle of joy. While they didn’t reveal the name, they did assure their child’s name will not be Jack, Aladdin, Tom Brady, or Jared Jr.
Ashley, 33, and Jared, 32 announced they were expecting last month.
“Baby Haibon is due Feb 10th!” Ashely said in an Instagram post. “We’re are very excited for that day to come! It’s so cool to think I’m creating a human that’s half me and half Jared!”
Wedding bells are ringing for Norman Reedus, who reportedly proposed to actress Diane Kruger — and she said yes!
Peoplereports that a source close to the ultra-private couple confirmed the upcoming nuptials. However, requests for comment went unanswered by both actors and their representatives.
Reedus, 52, and Kruger, 45, met in 2015 when they starred in the drama Sky and, in 2017, confirmed that they were going steady.
The following year, the two welcomed a daughter but have kept details about their little one private. The child, who turns three in November, is their first together.
Kruger previously told People in 2019 about her little one’s personality, saying her child is “kind of a dude” and raved, “It’s fun to have a girl, I will say. I like that, too.”
Reedus is the father of a 21-year-old son named Mingus, whom he shares with ex-partner Helena Christensen.
(NEW YORK) — The United States is facing a COVID-19 surge this summer as the more contagious delta variant spreads.
More than 633,000 Americans have died from COVID-19 while over 4.4 million people have died from the disease worldwide, according to real-time data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.
Just 60.5% of Americans ages 12 and up are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Here’s how the news is developing Friday. All times Eastern:
Aug 27, 4:27 am
Houston sees 5-fold increase in COVID-19 vaccinations
COVID-19 vaccinations in Houston increased more than five-fold on Thursday as the city launched a new incentive program.
The Houston Health Department is now providing up to $150 in gift cards to get vaccinated against COVID-19. A total of 740 vaccine doses were administered at the health department’s eligible sites on Thursday, the first day of the program, marking a 51% increase over Wednesday’s total of 121 doses.
Of the total shots administered Thursday, 658 were first doses and 82 were second dose, according to a press release from the health department.
Aug 26, 10:29 pm
SCOTUS suspends eviction moratorium
The U.S. Supreme Court suspended the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s nationwide eviction moratorium in an unsigned, 6-3 opinion Thursday night
“It is indisputable that the public has a strong interest in combating the spread of the COVID–19 Delta variant. But our system does not permit agencies to act unlawfully even in pursuit of desirable ends,” the court wrote. “It is up to Congress, not the CDC, to decide whether the public interest merits further action here.”
“If a federally imposed eviction moratorium is to continue, Congress must specifically authorize it,” it continued. “The application to vacate stay presented to THE CHIEF JUSTICE and by him referred to the Court is granted.”
Liberal justices Sonia Sotomayor, Stephen Breyer and Elena Kagan dissented.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki lamented the Supreme Court’s ruling, saying the CDC moratorium “saved lives by preventing the spread of the COVID-19 virus.”
“As a result of this ruling, families will face the painful impact of evictions, and communities across the country will face greater risk of exposure to COVID-19,” Psaki said in a statement, before reiterating President Joe Biden’s call for states, localities, landlords and local courts to do what they can to prevent evictions.
The Biden administration has repeatedly called on Congress to act in regard to the eviction moratorium, but Republicans have opposed the proposals.
The CDC had issued a 60-day extension to the moratorium the first week in August after the previous one expired July 31.
Aug 26, 6:37 pm
Every state now reporting high community transmission
Every state in the country is now reporting high community transmission of COVID-19, according to newly updated federal data.
In mid-June, no states were reporting high transmission, and just six states were reporting substantial transmission. Now, 10 weeks later, all 50 states are in that category, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The development comes as the delta variant has also rapidly spread. In June, the highly contagious variant accounted for just 26.4% of all new COVID-19 cases in the U.S.; today, it accounts for nearly 99%, according to the CDC.
Aug 26, 4:07 pm
US reporting more than 800 deaths per day, marking highest average in 5 months
The U.S. is continuing to experience its steepest increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations since the winter of 2020, with more than 101,000 patients now in hospitals, according to federal data. This marks the highest number of patients in seven months.
Eight weeks ago, there were under 12,000 patients receiving care.
The country’s daily death average has increased to more than 800 deaths per day. This is a 317% jump in the last seven weeks and marks the highest average since mid-March 2021.
(NEW YORK) — Tropical Storm Ida, which formed Thursday, is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane before targeting Louisiana this weekend.
Ida is set to hit the Cayman Islands and Cuba as a tropical storm on Friday morning, delivering up to 20 inches of rain. Tropical storm warnings are in effect for both locations.
By Friday night into Saturday morning, Ida is expected to move into the Gulf of Mexico and rapidly strengthen into a hurricane.
From Saturday morning to Sunday morning, Ida is forecast to grow even stronger, with winds likely approaching those of a Category 3 hurricane, which is considered a major hurricane.
Landfall is forecast for Sunday afternoon or evening, west of New Orleans and east of Lake Charles, though effects could be felt as early as Saturday night. Louisiana residents should expect storm surge up to 11 feet, 15 inches of rain, flash flooding and hurricane-force winds of up to 115 miles per hour.
After making landfall, Ida is expected to move north inland and could bring more heavy rain to middle Tennessee, which was hit by deadly floods last week.
The National Weather Service has issued a hurricane watch for parts of Louisiana and all of the Mississippi coast, including the cities of New Orleans and Biloxi. Those areas could see hurricane conditions within 36 to 48 hours.
Meanwhile, a tropical storm watch is in effect for parts of Mississippi and the entire Alabama coastline. A storm surge watch has also been issued for the entire coastline of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, including the cities of Lake Charles, New Orleans, Biloxi and Mobile.
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency Thursday evening as the threat of Ida looked more certain.
“Unfortunately, all of Louisiana’s coastline is currently in the forecast cone for Tropical Storm Ida, which is strengthening and could come ashore in Louisiana as a major hurricane as Gulf conditions are conducive for rapid intensification,” Edwards said in a statement. “Now is the time for people to finalize their emergency game plan, which should take into account the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.”
After landfall, Ida likely will move north into Tennessee with flooding rainfall. Areas in Tennessee hit with deadly, catastrophic flooding this weekend could suffer further destruction.
(KABUL, Afghanistan) — Chaos has enveloped Kabul after Afghanistan’s government collapsed and the Taliban seized control, all but ending America’s 20-year campaign as it began: under Taliban rule.
Two suicide bombers affiliated with ISIS-K carried out what the Pentagon called a “complex attack” outside the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul on Thursday, killing at least 13 American service members and wounding 18, among scores of Afghan casualties.
President Joe Biden has addressed the nation on the attack from the White House Thursday, saying, “America will not be intimidated.” Biden sat down with ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos for an exclusive one-on-one interview at the White House last week, the president’s first interview since the withdrawal from Afghanistan, and warned of the threat of attacks on the ground.
Here are the latest developments. All times Eastern:
Aug 27, 6:59 am
US, allies evacuate 12,500 people from Kabul in past 24 hours
The United States has evacuated and facilitated the evacuation of some 105,000 people from Kabul since Aug. 14, when the Taliban closed in on Afghanistan’s capital, according to a White House official.
In a 24-hour period from Thursday to Friday, 35 U.S. military flights carried approximately 8,500 evacuees out of Kabul. Another 4,000 people were evacuated via 54 coalition aircraft. Since the end of July, approximately 110,600 people have been relocated from Kabul via U.S. military and coalition flights, the White House
Aug 27, 6:18 am
Philadelphia airport to receive Afghan refugees
People fleeing Afghanistan are expected to arrive at Philadelphia’s primary airport in the coming days, according to a city spokesperson.
“This is a federal-led operation, and we are collaborating with the federal government in this emergency response, protecting the rights and dignity of the Afghan families arriving in the country,” the spokesperson told ABC News on Friday. “We stand ready to provide medical assistance, housing, and connection to our diverse community of immigrant service providers who can assist with an array of social services.”
The Philadelphia International Airport is the second airport in the United States to welcome arrivals of Afghan refugees, in addition to the Dulles International Airport in Virginia.
It was unclear when or exactly how many Afghan refugees would be landing in Philadelphia.
“Philadelphia stands in solidarity with Afghan refugees and we look forward to providing them a safe haven in our Welcoming City,” Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney said in a statement.
Aug 27, 5:33 am
UK enters final stages of Afghanistan evacuation
The United Kingdom announced Friday that it has entered the final stages of its evacuation from Afghanistan and no more people will be called to the airport to leave.
Processing facilities at the Baron Hotel in Kabul, outside the Hamid Karzai International Airport, have been closed and the British Armed Forces will now focus on evacuating the U.K. nationals and others who have already been processed and are at the airport awaiting departure, according to a press release from the U.K. Ministry of Defense.
“The U.K.’s ability to process further cases is now extremely reduced and additional numbers will be limited. No further people will be called forward to the airport for evacuation,” the defense ministry said. “Evacuating all those civilians we have already processed will free up the capacity needed on U.K. military aircraft to bring out our remaining diplomats and military personnel.”
U.K. Defense Secretary Ben Wallace called it a “remarkable achievement” that his government has evacuated more than 13,000 people from Kabul since Aug. 13, when the Taliban closed in on Afghanistan’s capital.
“Our top priority as we move through this process will be the protection of all those involved who are operating in a heightened threat environment,” Wallace said in a statement Friday. “It is with deep regret that not everyone has been able to be evacuated during this process.”
“We will continue to honour our debt to all those who have not yet been able to leave Afghanistan,” he added. “We will do all that we can to ensure they reach safety.”
Michael Ray‘s Higher Education falls somewhere between classic country and Southern rock.
Its track list still includes self-penned cuts like the autobiographical “Didn’t Know I Was Country” and the emotional “Picture,” plus his top-twenty throwback to nineties country, “Whiskey and Rain.”
Simultaneously, the EP’s title track features Kid Rock and Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top. So is the Sunshine State native feeling like he needs to rock a little more these days? After a tough 2020 and some serious self-reflection, Michael says the answer is an authentic yes.
“Everything got taken away from us all…” he says of the pandemic. “I was back in Florida, and I was like, ‘What if that’s it? What if… that was all… my last body of work anybody’s ever gonna hear? Am I 100% happy to hang my hat on that and that be it?'”
“I think we all had a moment in time of going, ‘Okay, I’m coming out of this better than I went into it,'” he adds.
Having grown up playing in his family’s country band, Michael immortalized his grandfather, Amos, with the title of his last record. But he realized he has more roots worth showcasing.
“I went back to what I fell in love with…” he reflects. “My dad was playing ZZ Top and Marshall Tucker [Band] and Lynyrd Skynyrd and Allman Brothers and that whole list. My grandpa was playing Ray Price and Porter Wagoner and Bobby Bare and Earl Thomas Conley and John Conlee.”
“So I grew up kind of always in the middle of this rock and fiddle… thing,” he laughs. “And so I think it’s comfortably where I like to live, and I like showing those both sides of it.”
You can stream or download Michael’s Higher Education now.
(NEW YORK) — Here are the scores from Thursday’s sports events:
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Baltimore 13. LA Angels 1
Chi White Sox 10. Toronto 7
Cleveland 10, Texas 6
Boston 12, Minnesota 2
NY Yankees 7, Oakland 6
Kansas City 6, Seattle 4
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Cincinnati 5, Milwaukee 1
Pittsburgh 11, St. Louis 7
San Francisco 3, NY Mets 2
Miami 7, Washington 5
Arizona 8, Philadelphia 7
LA Dodgers 4, San Diego 0
WOMEN’S NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Las Vegas 78, Atlanta 71
Dallas 82, Washington 77
Connecticut 76, Los Angeles 72
He’s All That, the gender-bend Netflix reboot of She’s All That, stars several familiar faces who say they were happily surprised by their young co-stars.
Rachael Leigh Cook and Matthew Lillard — who respectively starred as Laney Boggs and the sleazy reality star Brock Hudson in the 1999 romcom — told ABC Audio about their initial concerns about the rest of the crew, which they say now makes them laugh.
Cook, who now plays star Addison Rae‘s mom, and Lillard, who plays the high school principal, admitted they thought their Gen Z colleagues would spend all their time buried in their phones.
“They weren’t, which is a miracle,” said Cook, “I thought they were just going to be, you know, ticking and a tacking.”
Lillard, who laughed at Cook’s new code word for TikTok, revealed how the cast gelled on set, adding, “We also shot in the middle of a pandemic… I think that there was like some semblance of normalcy. And people were super happy about that.”
He also revealed that he was shocked She’s All That was given the reboot treatment.
“It’s a little weird that this movie, you know, found such an audience that it’s worthy to be remade,” said Lillard. “That said, I think that they did a great job updating it. I think the social media aspect of it is really smart.”
TikTok star Rae, who plays queen bee Padgett Sawyer, chimed in that she never would have believed she would be the one starring in the reboot.
Rae, who was studying journalism when she downloaded the app and became a sensation, recalled that people used to say her dreams of making it big “wasn’t something that was realistic.” (AUDIO IS ABC 1-ON-1)
