With the fall of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, the search for an American journalist who has been imprisoned for over 12 years has intensified. Austin Tice, 43, was detained at a checkpoint while traveling from a suburb of Damascus to Lebanon in 2012. He was working as a freelance journalist for various publications including The Washington Post. A month after his capture, he appeared in a video sent to his family showing him with armed men, titled “Austin Tice is Alive.” It included no other information. It is believed that Tice escaped weeks after he was kidnapped but was recaptured by Syrian intelligence. The toppling of Assad created new hope in the efforts to find Tice, as one of the rebels’ first priorities was to break into Syria’s prisons and release political prisoners. Western journalists and NGO workers are inspecting prisons, Israel is refraining from bombing areas where Tice may be, and Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he will get involved in the effort to find Tice, who U.S. intelligence officials believe is alive. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is currently offering a $1 million reward for information leading to Tice’s return home. The U.S. government is operating under the belief that Tice is alive and was imprisoned by the Assad regime in one of its detention centers, Axios reported. Tice’s parents — who have been constantly fighting for his release — said they received assurances he is alive. One prisoner, an American, appeared in initial videos following his release lying on a mattress, sparking speculation that he might be Tice, until it was later confirmed that he was Travis Timmerman of Missouri. Mrs. Tice said seeing Timmerman’s release felt “like a rehearsal” for her son’s future release. “It was almost like having a rehearsal … an inkling of what it’s really going to feel like when it is Austin walking free,” she told NBC television’s “Meet the Press.” Debra Tice (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) The rebel group — which is designated as a terrorist organization — led by Mohammad al-Jolani (Ahmed Hussein al-Shara), has reportedly agreed to cooperate with the U.S. government in the search for Tice. Al-Jolani’s group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, has been given a list of former Syrian officials who may have knowledge about Tice, reported The New York Times. The list was reportedly short because only a small group in Assad’s government were informed on Tice. Since the fall of the Assad regime, Israel has launched air strikes to destroy Syria’s weapons and military infrastructure including its air defenses, aircraft, missiles, UAVs, radars, and more. Mrs. Tice, worried about the bombing campaign’s interference in rescuing her son, sent Netanyahu a letter on Tuesday stating that she has “credible information” that her son might be in a prison near Damascus, and asked him to pause until Tice is rescued, Axios reported. On Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu assured Mrs. Tice that the Israeli Defense Forces are not targeting areas where her son may be located. “In response to your letter, please rest assured that Israel and its intelligence agencies are fully coordinated with the relevant American authorities on the matter and that the IDF is not active in the area where Austin may be located,” Netanyahu wrote. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s letter to Austin Tice’s mother. “In response to your letter, please rest assured that Israel and its intelligence agencies are fully coordinated with the relevant American authorities on the matter and that the IDF is not active in the area where… pic.twitter.com/pu72sF3HYQ — Kassy Akiva (@KassyAkiva) December 19, 2024 “I hope that you find a measure of comfort in that knowledge that your son’s courage and dedication as a journalist have not gone unnoticed,” Netanyahu added. “His commitment to the truth and to shining a light on the war in Syria have inspired so many people.” Mrs. Tice spoke at the National Press Club earlier this month, stating that she was given reassurances that Tice is alive and has been treated well. “We have from a significant source that has already been vetted all over our government that Austin Tice is alive. Austin Tice is treated well, and there is no doubt about that,” she said. Debra Tice: “We have from a significant source that has been already been vetted all over our government: Austin Tice is alive. Austin Tice is treated well, and there is no doubt about that.” pic.twitter.com/Iqj5h971io — CSPAN (@cspan) December 6, 2024 NGO Hostage Aid Worldwide, sent its president, Nizar Zakka, to Syria to assist in the search for Tice. During a press conference this week, Putin said he would ask President Bashar al-Assad — who fled to Russia following his regime’s collapse — about Tice’s whereabouts. “I haven’t met with President [Bashar al-]Assad since his arrival in Moscow, but I plan to do so, I will definitely talk to him,” Putin said, reported CNN. But Putin expressed doubt that Tice could be found, citing the lengthy time since his detainment. “But you and I are adults, we understand, right?” Putin said. “12 years ago, a man disappeared in Syria, 12 years ago! We understand what the situation was there 12 years ago, there was active military action, and on both sides. Does President Assad himself know what happened to this American citizen, a journalist who was doing his journalistic duty in a combat zone? Nevertheless, I promise that I will ask this question to those people who control the situation on the ground in Syria today.” Putin was asked the question following Mrs. Tice requesting his help in a letter, due to his strong ties to the Syrian government. “The current situation in Syria compels us to ask for your help in finding Austin and safely reuniting our family,” she reportedly wrote in the letter. “You have profound connections with the Syrian government, which can be a great benefit for our unrelenting efforts to find our Austin and reunite our family.” In August 2024, the twelfth anniversary of Tice’s abduction, Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated the calls for his release in a statement. “For more than a quarter of his life, Austin has been separated from his family and kept in unknown conditions,” Blinken’s statement reads. “We know that the Syrian government has held Austin, and we have repeatedly offered to find a way to bring him home.” In August 2020, on the eighth anniversary of his capture, President-elect Donald Trump issued a statement calling for Tice’s release and urged the Syrian government to assist in his return. “There is no higher priority in my administration than the recovery and return of Americans missing abroad,” Trump wrote. “The Tice family deserves answers. We stand with the Tice family and will not rest until we bring Austin home.” The Tice family praised Trump for sending Kash Patel to Syria to open a dialogue about Tice’s return. The family said they were closer than they “have ever been to having Austin safely home” at the time. The family also met with President Joe Biden, who they said made “significant, encouraging commitments” in the efforts to bring Tice home. A Houston native, Tice served as a captain in the Marine Corps, is an Eagle Scout, and graduated from Georgetown University. He has won several journalism awards, including the 2012 George Polk Award for War Reporting, the 2012 McClatchy Newspapers President’s Award, and the 2015 National Press Club John Aubuchon Freedom of the Press Award, the Houston Chronicle reported. Tice traveled to Syria to freelance in the summer of 2012 before his last year at Georgetown Law School. He is reportedly the longest-held journalist in captivity, according to the National Press Club.

Actor Ryan Reynolds is being mocked on social media for claiming that he and his wife, fellow Hollywood celebrity Blake Lively, come from “working-class” backgrounds. The 48-year-old initially made the comments as part of an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. That piece was published on December 13, but the remark went viral after it surfaced on the official Instagram account for The Cut magazine on Wednesday. Reynolds had been discussing how he and Lively try to give their four children “as normal a life as possible” despite being rich and famous. “I try not to impose upon them the difference in their childhood to my childhood or my wife’s childhood,” the Canadian actor told THR. “We both grew up very working class, and I remember when they were very young, I used to say or think, like, ‘Oh God, I would never have had a gift like this when I was a kid,’ or, ‘I never would’ve had this luxury of getting takeout,’ or whatever.” “Then I realized that that’s not really their bag of rocks to carry,” Reynolds added. These statements are causing backlash mostly because Lively is understood to be one of the most infamous “nepo baby” stars who grew up in the industry. The actress’s father, Ernie, is an actor and director, while her mother, Elaine, works as a talent manager. All four of Lively’s other siblings are also working actors. Commenters on Instagram made fun of Reynold’s claim. “Quick search: She grew up in Tarzana and then went to Burbank High. Her whole family was in the entertainment business. She was cast in Sisterhood for the Traveling Pants while she was a teen. It’s giving at least middle class [vibes],” one person wrote. “Anyway none of that matters [because] she’s rich and insufferable now.” CHECK OUT THE DAILY WIRE HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE “More and more I’m learning that rich people say ‘working class’ when they mean ‘had a salary,’” a second agreed. “Just because her parents worked, doesn’t make them working class,” a third agreed. This isn’t the first time a celebrity got called out for identifying as working class. Soccer star David Beckham corrected his wife, Victoria, when she claimed to come from a “working class” background during an episode of their Netflix special that aired last October.  She said, “I think also we both come from families that work really hard. Both of our parents work very hard, we’re very working class.” David interrupted from the next room and corrected his wife, urging her to “Be honest!” “I am being honest,” Victoria said. Then David pushed her and asked, “What car did your dad drive you to school in?” Several people echoed the “Be honest” line in response to Reynold’s latest comments about Lively.

ABC News shelled out $16 million to settle a lawsuit after longtime anchor George Stephanopoulos made a demonstrably false statement on the air about President-elect Donald Trump, saying that he had been held “liable for rape.” And according to a new report from the New York Post, the former Democratic strategist was repeatedly warned not to use the word “rape” before the segment aired. Stephanopoulos was hosting the network’s flagship Sunday morning political show “This Week” – and speaking to guest Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) — when he challenged Mace to defend Trump despite the verdict in the E. Jean Carroll case, in which Trump was found liable for sexual abuse but not rape. According to the Post’s report, the show’s executive producer spoke to Stephanopoulos before the show went live. “‘This Week’ producer said, ‘Don’t use the word rape’ before the segment started. The EP [executive producer] said it so many times,” the Post quoted a “network source” as saying. Another source reportedly confirmed the warning in a text message to the Post, saying that Stephanopoulos had been instructed “not to say rape.” Stephanopoulos did so anyway — and more than once — and the clip went viral in part because he was speaking to Mace, who has said that she is also a sexual assault survivor. Trump’s team filed suit, but Stephanopoulos was doubling down days later during an appearance on “The Late Show” with Stephen Colbert. CHECK OUT THE DAILY WIRE HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE “I’m not going to be cowed out of doing my job because of the threat,” he said, referencing the lawsuit. The lawsuit was settled on Saturday with just days to go before depositions were set to begin. ABC agreed, according to that settlement, to pay $15 million to a “Presidential foundation and museum to be established by or for [Trump], as Presidents of the United States of America have established in the past” in addition to $1 million to cover Trump’s attorney fees. In addition to the payout, Stephanopoulos was instructed to apologize — and, according to another report from the Post, was “apoplectic” at the thought. Still, the anchor and the network released a joint statement: “ABC News and George Stephanopoulos regret statements regarding President Donald J. Trump made during an interview by George Stephanopoulos with Rep. Nancy Mace on ABC’s ‘This Week’ on March 10, 2024.” Behind the scenes, the Post reported, ABC staffers are referring to the “humiliated” anchor as “Furious George” and questioning the wisdom of allowing him to continue to cover a second Trump administration: “Everyone seems to be asking that question except ABC brass.”

A Texas public school district superintendent informed parents that the Bible was removed from the district’s libraries because it violated a state House bill requiring library books to be expunged if they contained “sexually explicit material.” HB 900, the READER Act (Restricting Explicit and Adult Designated Educational Resources), was passed by the 88th Texas Legislature, signed into law by Republican Governor Greg Abbott, and implemented on September 1, 2023. It states, “a library material vendor must perform a contextual analysis of the material to determine whether the material describes, depicts, or portrays sexual conduct in a way that is patently offensive.” Canyon Independent School District Superintendent Darryl Flusche wrote an email to parents earlier this week in which he stated: House Bill 900, which passed during the last legislative session, establishes library standards that restrict content in school libraries. … This standard for library content prohibits books that have one instance of sexual content as described above. Therefore, HB900 doesn’t allow numerous books, including the full text of the Bible, to be available in the school library. “There are 30 titles available in the Canyon Junior High library that are Bible stories or portions of the Bible,” he pointed out. “Additionally, if any student would like to have a Bible, we have strong connections with local churches that are happy to donate a Bible upon request. We are more than willing to assist a student who would like access to a Bible by arranging this from one of our partnering churches.” CHECK OUT THE DAILY WIRE HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE On December 9, one concerned mother with two children in the school district stated that it “seems absurd to me that the Good Book was thrown out with the bad books. … In a day when we are needing security guards and bulletproof windows and doors, I think having the Word of God available to our children cannot only be preventative to violence, but also provide comfort and a sense of security in a chaotic world.” “It just makes sense to have the Word of God in our school library,” she continued. “After all, it is the book of wisdom. It is the bestselling book of all time; it is historically accurate, scientifically sound, and most importantly, life-changing.”

'I would expect we may see the same result'

'The recovery needs to start now'

It's about time

There “wasn’t a dry eye in the house” as a little boy took his first steps down the aisle at his mom’s wedding. But it wasn’t the sight of him in his cute outfit, or his beaming smile that broke the tissue barrier, rather it was because of the special harness he had used to […] The post Little Boy Beats Odds to Walk Mom Down Aisle Thanks to Special Harness – (WATCH) appeared first on Good News Network.

News 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple Second Film in 28 Years Later Trilogy Gets Title & Release Date By Vanessa Armstrong | Published on December 19, 2024 Screenshot: Sony Pictures Comment 0 Share New Share Screenshot: Sony Pictures Did you know they were making not one but three films set in the post-apocalyptic zombie world we first visited in 2002’s 28 Days Later? Well, they are, and we now have the title and release date for the second film. The first feature, 28 Years Later, is set to premiere in theaters on June 20, 2025. Today, news broke that the second movie is called 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, and it will premiere six months later on January 16, 2026. What’s the Bone Temple exactly? We don’t know yet, of course, but I’d bet it has something to do with the tower of skulls we see a bloody Ralph Fiennes guide our protagonists to in the recently released 28 Years Later trailer. The Bone Temple was shot back-to-back with 28 Years Later. But where the first film was directed by Danny Boyle (who also directed the 2002 movie that started this franchise), The Bone Temple has Nia DaCosta (The Marvels, Candyman) in the director’s chair. Alex Garland, who co-wrote 28 Days Later and 28 Years Later with Boyle (and who also wrote and directed Ex Machina, Annihilation, and Civil War) has also penned the script for The Bone Temple. Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Kraven the Hunter) stars in 28 Years Later along with Jodie Comer (Killing Eve), Ralph Fiennes (Conclave), Erin Kellyman (Solo), and Jack O’Connell (Ferrari). There’s no confirmation yet if any of those cast members survive to star in The Bone Temple, but odds are good that at least Taylor-Johnson’s character will live to see another movie. Here’s the official synopsis for 28 Years Later, which gives us a tease as to the state of the world in the aftermath of a rage virus: It’s been almost three decades since the rage virus escaped a biological weapons laboratory, and now, still in a ruthlessly enforced quarantine, some have found ways to exist amidst the infected. One such group of survivors lives on a small island connected to the mainland by a single, heavily-defended causeway. When one of the group leaves the island on a mission into the dark heart of the mainland, he discovers secrets, wonders and horrors that have mutated not only the infected but other survivors as well. No news yet on when the third film in the trilogy will premiere. [end-mark] The post Second Film in <i>28 Years Later</i> Trilogy Gets Title & Release Date appeared first on Reactor.

Growing up, there was always one movie that made the holiday season complete for us. Of course, we were excited kids waiting for Christmas, so it was hard not to lap up whatever was in store for us. But those 24-hour A Christmas Story marathons didn't come out of thin air! So some movies clearly rose above the pack for us. And once you've seen enough of them, it doesn't take long to notice that... Source