In a major announcement on Wednesday, President Donald Trump revealed an ambitious $22.5 billion endeavor aimed at transforming Washington Dulles International Airport. Unfolding this vision during an event at the Oval Office, Trump was joined by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby.
Trump expressed enthusiasm about the airport’s transformation process, saying, “We’ve consulted over 30 architects and reviewed numerous designs. Through careful selection, we have crafted a plan that is not only efficient but also visually stunning.”
Highlighting the need for change, Trump remarked, “Regardless of political affiliation, no one wants to experience this airport as it stands today. It’s not a pleasant environment. However, our aim is for Dulles to gain recognition as the best airport in the country in the coming years.”
In his second term, Trump has been proactive in initiating various projects around Washington. Notable endeavors include the construction of a new ballroom at the White House and a planned renovation of the Kennedy Center—a project that briefly bore his name until a court ruling necessitated its removal.
The rejuvenation project at Dulles will receive funding through the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, alongside contributions from airlines operating from the airport. The primary financial support will stem from low-interest municipal bonds issued by the authority. Trump mentioned that while the initiative calls for some congressional approval, it benefits from bipartisan support.
Using a laser pointer, the president showed off renderings of what travelers can expect, including four new concourses, parking lots closer to the main terminal and an expanded AeroTrain which will scrap antiquated mobile lounges, known as “people movers,” which transport passengers between concourses.
The people movers are a top complaint among passengers who frequently use Dulles. The vehicles, which date back to the 1960s, resemble buses that raise to dock at concourses and lower to travel, are often packed with mostly standing passengers and move among airport traffic. They are a top complaint among passengers who frequently use Dulles.
“They’re slow, and people are angry about them. We are going to get rid of those,” Duffy said.
The multiyear project would change the landscape of most of the airport, but the iconic main terminal building would keep its historic appearance.
Dulles will add 5 million square feet of new and renovated terminal and retail space, including an international terminal that will allow passengers to walk directly to the Customs area. The president also claimed the airport will have the largest parking garage in the world with 32,000 parking spaces.The airport’s biggest airline, United, currently operates most of its flights out of an outdated and cramped terminal that was built in 1985 as a temporary facility. It was rehabbed in 2006 in order to extend its life.
United has been working behind the scenes on the design and details of the project. In addition to new gates and concourses, United passengers will get a new state of the art check-in area in the main terminal and a faster baggage system. United will also build one of the largest United Polaris lounges in the world.
“The terminal that’s out there today was built 45 years ago. It was meant to be temporary, and so I’ve spent my whole career at United Airlines waiting for this day, and all the people of United Airlines have spent even longer waiting for the day that we could have really the best airport in the world, and this design is one that works great for the airline,” Kirby said in the Oval Office.
Officials said the airport will remain open during the renovation, which will take place in phases over 10 years in partnership with the airlines and the airport authority.
Long-Elusive Fugitive Ronald Fischer Captured After 20 Years on the Run
For over two decades, a fugitive often spotlighted on “America’s Most Wanted” has been evading capture. Recently, this elusive figure faced the judicial system in Rhode Island, revealing his true identity for the first time since escaping the grip of justice during a sexual assault trial.
Seventy-year-old Ronald Fischer confirmed his identity during a session at Newport Superior Court. The hearing addressed multiple issues, including the dismissal of an old warrant related to his alleged evasion of a 2005 court appearance. Additionally, he was formally charged with bail jumping, and his bail was set at $20,000 surety.
His run came to an abrupt end earlier this month when Fischer was apprehended on board the 56-foot sailboat “Silver Lining” near New Jersey’s shores. Law enforcement managed to track him down thanks to a reliable tip regarding his location.
Without legal representation, Fischer stood in court on Monday as officials discussed assigning him an attorney to aid in his defense.
In a dramatic twist, authorities captured Ronald Fischer last week on a sailboat off the New Jersey coast, and he is now facing proceedings at Newport Superior Court. (Pool)
His next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 17.
Authorities said Fischer had been living under the alias “Dr. Richard Graydon” while eluding capture for more than 20 years.
Fischer disappeared during his 2005 sexual assault trial in Rhode Island, where he was accused of sexually assaulting a woman aboard his boat at a Portsmouth marina in 2003. He was later convicted in absentia and remained one of the state’s most wanted fugitives, appearing multiple times on “America’s Most Wanted.”
Ronald Fischer is escorted into a Newport, Rhode Island, courtroom for his first appearance after being captured following more than two decades as a fugitive. (Pool)
An affidavit previously obtained by News Media details how investigators believe Fischer meticulously planned his disappearance before vanishing.
Investigators wrote that Fischer emailed his attorney on April 23, 2005, saying he intended to flee the country rather than risk a conviction. Later that evening, they said he called each of his daughters and told them he was leaving the United States.
According to the affidavit, Fischer contacted a New York travel agency before purchasing an American Airlines ticket from Boston to London, only to cancel the reservation before boarding the flight.
Ronald Fischer appears in Newport Superior Court in Rhode Island on Monday, days after authorities captured the longtime fugitive following more than 20 years on the run. (Pool)
Surveillance cameras later captured him returning a rental car to an Enterprise location in Boston shortly after midnight before walking away carrying two travel bags.
Investigators also determined Fischer spent the days before his disappearance putting his affairs in order by transferring vehicles to his daughters, instructing them to remove their belongings from his home and disposing of a Jaguar before vanishing.
Ronald L. Fischer, a former anesthesiologist and one of Rhode Island’s longest-wanted fugitives, was captured after more than 20 years on the run, authorities said. (Rhode Island State Police)
The affidavit also alleges Fischer emailed attorney Robert Mann explaining he had decided not to risk being convicted in Rhode Island and instead planned to leave the country to pursue what he described as “a good, safe, secure and comfortable life.”
Fischer now faces sentencing in the sexual assault case, a felony bail-jumping charge and a pending federal charge alleging unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.
The U.S. Marshals Service credited a multi-agency investigation and a public tip with leading investigators to Fischer’s capture, ending what it described as one of Rhode Island’s longest-running fugitive cases.
Tom Cruise’s ‘Digger’ Press Event Unveiled: Why Hollywood is Moving Away from Film Critic Influencers
Hollywood studios have embraced the power of social media influencers. It makes sense; as the film industry evolves, unpredictable elements like journalists and critics are becoming less central to pre-release strategies. Enter influencers like Straw Hat Goofy, whose impact is rivaling that of legendary critics such as Pauline Kael.
July 9 marked a unique event by Warner Bros. to unveil the trailer for their forthcoming Tom Cruise thriller “Digger.” This gathering heavily featured influencers, a few trade reporters, and Cruise himself. While the event was rich in spectacle, its authenticity was called into question.
Upon arriving at the Burbank studio, attendees were required to surrender their phones, barring them from capturing photos or videos of Cruise’s display in front of a massive 24,000-pound prop shovel or the impressive exhibition of the film’s VistaVision camera equipment. Sources indicated only Warner-approved photographers and videographers were permitted to record the proceedings. Nonetheless, participants later shared eerily similar photos tempered with effusive praise, recounting their extraordinary day with the “Mission: Impossible” icon.
“You could have your picture taken with Tom, but it was done by their photographer and then posted by influencers as if it had happened naturally,” described a source from the event. “The whole experience felt strangely orchestrated and thoroughly managed.”
A representative from Warner Bros. clarified, “Tom regularly takes selfies with fans. Though, given the size of the groups hosted that day—over 200 guests in two sessions—a photographer was provided for efficiency, but participation was entirely voluntary.”
The movie influencers covering the event later posted comments on Cruise’s Instagram feed such as: “Thank you for the invite and conversation. Me, You, eyes interlocked… obviously I chocked [sic], what els [sic],” “Had the best time! Thanks for geeking out with me!,” “What an incredible day. Thank you for having us, Tom ” and “Thank you for being so kind! It was an honor to tell you my life story. That day is going to be forever in my heart.” And that’s leaving out all the many heart emojis. Another influencer filmed a clip in his car screeching that he couldn’t believe he’d met Cruise, but that he didn’t have a pic because it was still somewhere inside Warner Bros.’ system. (Certainly not the usual reaction from an Andrew Sarris or David Thomsen back in the day.)
Cruise did sitdown interviews for “Digger,” junket-style, with a former advertising creative-turned-freelancer Patrick Tomasso (241K YouTube subs), the aforementioned Straw Hat Goofy (3.6M TikTok followers) who asks on his social media profile “Can I Be Your Movie Guy?” and another movie influencer called JocWatchlist (481.7K TikTok followers). Attendees even filmed a group promo clip with Cruise, and even the video’s director posted, “Got to direct @tomcruise’s first TikTok @diggerthemovie.”
Then again, the Alejandro González Iñárritu-directed film is a risky swing for the studio, leaving a small margin for error. Warner Bros. officially puts the budget at $125 million. (We hear it’s at least $135 million and possibly more.) But even at $125 million, the movie would need to outpace other Cruise-toplined adult-skewing fare like “American Made†($135 million worldwide, and the actor’s last movie not based on preexisting IP), or the historical drama “Valkyrie” ($202 million).
“Digger”‘s box-office and anticipated awards-season traction will be determined when the movie opens Oct. 2.
Even with Cruise’s stratospheric star power, his fans might be challenged by the “Digger†version of Cruise complete with old-man prosthetics, a gray balding hairpiece and bad teeth. (Then again he made history as the unrecognizable Les Grossman in “Tropic Thunder.”)
Warners is not alone in seeking to court influencers and creators as marketing saviors in a town desperate to regain its box office footing through youth-oriented marketing. With so much at stake, studios are increasingly leaning on influencers early in the marketing process. “It’s emblematic of the mainstream industry being in a perpetual state of flop sweat,” muses a venerable critic.
“Unpredictable is a bad word in Hollywood… a four-letter word. Every executive from top to bottom is like, ‘How do I remove the unpredictable from my campaign?’†says one veteran marketing guru. “And that’s where the influencers come in.â€
Says another veteran critic, “The studios now feel the only safe space they have is with the influencers. People who aren’t legitimate critics or reporters, even though most of them are members of the Critics Choice Awards, the jokiest credential ever.â€
It has become standard for studios to invite influencers and creators for fully paid set visits during production and then to hold screenings for those same influencers a week — if not several — in advance of when critics at legacy outlets get their first crack at seeing a film.
A few recent examples of the strategy include “Masters of the Universe†and “Supergirl.†Even Steven Spielberg picked up the influencer trend with a “Disclosure Day†TikTok event two weeks prior to the film’s release, plus a tour of Amblin’s archive with influencer Reece Feldman.
(By contrast, Christopher Nolan‘s “The Odyssey” bucked the trend and banned influencers from early screenings. It is by far the summer’s biggest hit to date.)
Some say it comes down to cost. “Why wouldn’t I try to reach a specific or niche audience for pennies on the dollar that I would have spent through traditional media?†asks a marketer.
Even better for marketing execs looking to sway potential moviegoers, most influencers and creators are not held to any of the journalistic standards that apply to writers at legacy media outlets with ethical guidelines.
“It goes back to the death of expertise, the internet is the death of expertise,” says a high-ranking studio exec. “But people raised on the internet do not care about expertise. Their idea of expertise is how many followers they have on TikTok. It’s a shifting value system.â€
When“ Supergirl†was released, several influencers attacked top Variety critic Owen Gleiberman for his largely negative review. “If you are at an age where you can remember life before smartphones then you might care what a critic says. But if you grew up with a smart phone, the creators and influencers — those are your critics,” says a film pro.
But the chorus of influencers defending “Supergirl” did not drive audiences to buy tickets to the box-office bomb.
One exec adds that after sharp media cutbacks during the pandemic, “Critics never regained a new consistent platform. Siskel and Ebert were the last TV critics with influence. The quality and consistency of solid film criticism that speaks to the audience’s viewing tastes is gone, and the critics now seem to be reviewing from a narcissistic place. There is no one who moves the box office. You’re better off going to Letterboxd. The internet is the new critic, with influence flow or algorithms geared to the viewer.”
It’s not hard to find evidence of how the creator economy is eating legacy media’s lunch. “What’s so amazing to me is that when the influencer embargo gets lifted the traditional media outlets write these initial reaction stories which are just pickups of what these influencers post, which I find so sad,” says another entertainment vet.
But… perhaps having a good movie is the recipe for success. A seasoned exec says of Curry Barker’s Gen Z smash “Obsession”: “I couldn’t tell who was pushing the film as an influencer from the people who were just fanatics about the movie. It felt totally organic to the moment.â€
This same exec warns that the studios now risk leaning too heavily on a form of marketing they don’t fully understand. “People using social media are very savvy and if it feels ‘paid for’ or ‘sponsored by’ there’s going to be a lot of backlash. Authenticity is everything and it is very hard for studios to manufacture that.â€
Why Pamela Adlon Co-Hosted ‘Live’ with Mark: Ripa’s Absence
Live with Kelly and Mark is set to feature a special guest co-host as Kelly Ripa takes a brief hiatus. The show’s dynamic continues to captivate audiences with its engaging guest line-up.
Fans received an update on Monday, July 27, from Mark Consuelos regarding Ripa’s recovery following her gum graft surgery. During her absence, Consuelos has been teaming up with intriguing personalities such as Kevin Jonas and Mila Kunis. Today, acclaimed actress Pamela Adlon steps into the co-host chair to join Consuelos.
Adlon, known for her standout role in King of the Hill, recently sat down with Ripa and Consuelos last Wednesday, July 22, discussing the latest season of the show’s revival on Hulu. She now returns to engage with guests K. Michelle and John David Washington, bringing her signature wit to the conversation.
According to DECIDER, this season of Live will continue to entertain audiences until August 28. With the team scheduled for their annual summer vacation shortly after, viewers will nevertheless continue to enjoy fresh episodes throughout August. Entertainment Weekly reveals that next week’s episodes will feature additional guest co-hosts joining Consuelos as the show approaches its summer pause.
Adlon’s co-hosting appearance on Live follows her recent Emmy nomination for the reprised role of Bobby Hill in King of the Hill. During a visit to DECIDER’s studio earlier this month, Adlon expressed her excitement and disbelief about the Emmy recognition, remarking that she is still “pinching” herself.
“It’s an amazing feeling to be nominated for something, I think even more than winning,” she shared. “Being recognized by your peers, it just feels really good, and to have been doing this show, essentially—I mean Mike [Judge] and Greg [Daniels] created Bobby, but creating Bobby throughout the years, it’s been my favorite, like the joy of my professional life. I went through all three of my pregnancies during the show while I was being a 12-year-old boy, and then 15 years later, we’re doing the show again. It’s very much a pinch-me moment.”
Live with Kelly and Mark airs on weekdays. Check out their website for your local listings.
Heroic Ocean Rescue: California Lifeguard Shares Passion and Experience
A courageous 16-year-old lifeguard, who garnered widespread attention for saving a 10-year-old from tumultuous waters, has broken his silence regarding the dramatic rescue, sharing his experience in a statement released Wednesday.
Ryder Williams, the teenage hero at the center of this gripping story, recounted the life-saving event that took place at Santa Cruz Beach last Saturday. His quick actions have since captivated audiences across the nation. His employer, California State Parks, released his detailed account of the incident.
“While positioned 15 yards downcoast from Tower 2 for a safety watch, I noticed a child struggling about 20 yards away. He lost his balance in shallow water,” the statement begins, setting the scene for the unfolding drama.
On July 25, 2026, 16-year-old Ryder Williams repeatedly vanished beneath the immense waves, yet persisted in his efforts to save a child caught in the dangerous surf at Santa Cruz, California. (Scott Vander Dussen/Instagram @Santacruznow)
“Without hesitation, I radioed the situation, tossed my radio and sunglasses at my tower’s base, and sprinted toward the child. I secured my fins, grabbed my buoy, and plunged into the water. The situation was intense; I couldn’t secure the child with the tube initially due to the turbulent seas. He was unresponsive, and the waves crashed relentlessly. It wasn’t until two to three more waves passed that fellow lifeguard Aaron Bohnen joined me in the water. Onlookers attempted to assist, but I urged them firmly to return to shore for their safety,” Williams elaborated in his gripping narrative.
“Once Bohnen and I got the kid to shore I was instructed to get the med bag from Bohnen’s unit and we assessed the child. Shortly after, I got back into my tower where I returned to provide lifeguard services for the rest of my shift,” he continued.
“I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to return the child to his family safely. This is my job and I love what I do. I’m thankful to my fellow lifeguards who perform rescues just like this every day,” Williams’ statement concluded.
Witnesses say the dramatic rescue lasted far longer than the viral video shows, with the teen lifeguard refusing to release the child despite punishing surf. (Scott Vander Dussen/Instagram @Santacruznow)
Williams’ heroics earned him national attention, praise and even an invitation to the White House.
“We’re going to bring this heroic young man, and his family, into the White House with, perhaps, the boy he saved, to give him a High Civilian Honor. Very brave, he deserves it!” the White House wrote in an X post attributed to President Donald Trump.
Williams’ rescue was one of 34 rescues in the Santa Cruz district over the weekend, California State Parks said in a statement obtained by FOX 2 KTVU.
“All California State Park lifeguard towers were staffed, there were 6 units on, a two-person rescue water craft team, three permanent lifeguard units, and a lifeguard supervisor working in Pajaro Coast,” California State Parks also said of the weekend.
Witnesses say the dramatic rescue lasted far longer than the viral video shows, with Ryder Williams refusing to release the child despite punishing surf. (Scott Vander Dussen/Instagram @Santacruznow)
The 10-year-old boy Williams rescued was identified by KTVU as being named Nathaniel. His father, Sumit Rai, praised Williams’ efforts in an interview with KTVU.
“It was a remarkable effort to bring him back to shore. I mean Ryder fought the sea,” he told the outlet.
“It’s really hard to fight that, and my son was unconscious. He weighs about 100 pounds, and he was limp, so that’s basically dead weight that he had to carry and hold onto to pull back to shore,” he continued.
“It’s so easy to let go, and he knew that if he lets go then he’s gonna basically just float away, and he’s gone. That’s the end of it, and he would have died,” Rai concluded.
News Media contacted California State Parks for comment and additional information.
UEFA Stands Firm: Boycotts World Cup Amid Controversial $20B FIFA-Kushner Deal
UEFA, the organization representing the 55 European soccer associations, is reportedly planning to boycott the World Cup and other competitions under FIFA’s organization. This move is in response to FIFA’s potential $20 billion commercial overhaul inspired by Wall Street, as informed sources disclosed to The Post.
Set to finalize the decision during emergency talks in Switzerland on Thursday, UEFA’s proposal involves European countries withdrawing from all FIFA-governed tournaments. These talks are scheduled to commence at 9 a.m. Eastern Time.
European soccer leaders are reportedly angry with FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s push toward commercializing world soccer. Confident of their position, they anticipate rallying support from over 50 nations against Infantino’s agenda, insiders have revealed.
One insider noted that the opposition might be unanimous, despite the initial backing of the privatization concept from the Czech soccer association’s leader.
Should UEFA proceed with the boycott on Thursday, it could trigger an unprecedented crisis for FIFA, marking a potential turning point in the organization’s 122-year history.
A boycott means the 2030 World Cup goes on without global powerhouses like England, France, Spain, and Germany — nations that have won every World Cup but one since 2006.
Without the continent’s biggest stars and deepest television markets, the World Cup is effectively crippled, meaning Infantino’s multibillion-dollar pitch to Wall Street could be dead on arrival.
The boycott would includes the men’s and women’s World Cups, youth championships, and the expanded Club World Cup, a global playoff between the top franchises from each continent.
However, European teams would continue playing in regional tournaments completely controlled by UEFA, such as the money-spinning Champions League and the European Championship.
Infantino’s controversial scheme aims to bundle the World Cup’s massive broadcasting, ticketing, and sponsorship rights into a new private subsidiary dubbed FIFA Forward Enterprise.
“He’s struggling to keep it together,” said one source close to UEFA of Infantino. “The one thing that’s unifying about him is that everyone hates him. But he’s so deluded is that he doesn’t think that’s true.”
The move marks a stunning escalation in the sport’s global civil war amid anger over a multibillion-dollar deal set to line the pockets of a private equity group close to President Trump’s in-laws, the Kushner family.
Infantino’s private equity plan, in which US banking giant JPMorgan is reportedly playing an advisory role, still needs approval from FIFA’s 211 member nations, including the United States.
If passed, Thrive Eternal — an American venture capital firm founded by Joshua Kushner, brother of Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner — is expected to lead the investor group and snap up a 20% stake for just over $4.2 billion.
The Post has sought comment from UEFA, FIFA, Thrive Capital and JPMorgan.
Infantino has struck up a close relationship with the current commander-in-chief, even awarding him the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize after he failed to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
The boycott threat follows weeks of intense scrutiny over the relationship between the two men.
Earlier this month, Trump admitted he directly called Infantino to demand FIFA review a red card issued to American striker Folarin Balogun during the World Cup, a move that successfully overturned the player’s mandatory suspension.
To sweeten the deal, Infantino is dangling a massive payday. The former lawyer is promising to hike development payouts for smaller federations from $8 million to a whopping $20 million through 2030, branding the cash grab as the “democratization” of soccer.
But the backlash has spilled from the sports pages into the halls of government across Europe, with politicians furious over the blatant corporatization of a cultural institution.
“Let me say this very directly. Football does not belong to investors,” left-wing British Prime Minister Andy Burnham thundered on social media Wednesday. “The World Cup is not a product. It is the greatest competition in world sport, and it was never anyone’s to sell.”
EU Sports Commissioner Glen Micallef took a thinly veiled shot at American corporate sports culture, telling reporters: “This isn’t baseball. The FIFA World Cup remains the greatest sporting tournament on the planet. The relentless commercialization of football has become corrosive.”
Because FIFA operates as a massive business in Europe, it must obey the European Union’s strict anti-monopoly laws. Recent EU court rulings made it clear that sports organizations cannot use their power to act like illegal monopolies and break free-market rules.
Even the typically reserved English Football Association threw its weight behind the boycott, slamming FIFA’s “lack of process and governance.” Hans-Joachim Watzke, vice-president of Germany’s soccer association and the former CEO of German giants Borussia Dortmund, echoed the continent’s fury, calling the private equity play an “outright attack on football.”
Infantino has already caused consternation among some European supporters by defending “dynamic pricing” that left fans shut out of stadiums due to skyrocketing ticket costs.
And this is not the first time European nations have poured scorn on his bid to bring private money into the game.
In 2018, Infantino floated a massive $25 billion deal with a consortium including Japan’s SoftBank to launch a revamped Club World Cup and a new global Nations League, but the proposal was swiftly abandoned due to intense pushback from UEFA.
The next men’s FIFA World Cup, scheduled for 2030, will be primarily hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. To mark the centenary of the tournament, the opening three matches will be played in South America, hosted by Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay. The most recent World Cup took place in 2026, jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada
Exploring the Enigmatic Love Story of Rihanna and A$AP Rocky
Despite their status as one of Hollywood’s power couples, singer Rihanna and rapper A$AP Rocky maintain a surprisingly low-profile existence. The dynamic duo, both 35, first connected romantically back in 2020. Since then, they have only grown closer, welcoming two children into their lives: 17-month-old RZA Athelston Mayes and three-month-old Riot Rose. However, their journey hasn’t been without its bumps. Rocky recently had to address firearm charges in a Los Angeles courtroom, and the couple has been plagued by unpleasant allegations of infidelity. So, what does their off-stage life really look like? In this exclusive, we dive into the home life of Rihanna and A$AP Rocky, away from the flash of celebrity and music stardom.
The couple resides in a lavish $14 million mansion nestled in Beverly Hills. Prior to this, as reported by Hello! Magazine, Rihanna owned the neighboring property before selling it in July this year. Announcing her pregnancy with their first child in January 2022, Rihanna delighted fans worldwide as she proudly displayed her baby bump. Their first son, RZA Athelston Mayes, was named in homage to the iconic Wu-Tang Clan leader and founder, RZA, and joined the family that May.
Rihanna made headlines once again with the reveal of her second pregnancy in February during the Super Bowl halftime show. Clad in a striking red ensemble on a floating stage, she surprised audiences as she confidently unveiled her growing belly. Riot Rose was born in August, adding another bundle of joy to their growing family.
Reflecting on her newfound role as a mother, Rihanna described the experience as nothing short of legendary in an interview with British Vogue last February. ‘We’re best friends with a baby. We have to be on the same page, but we’ve always kind of had that in our relationship. Everything changes when you have a baby but I wouldn’t say it’s done anything but made us closer,’ she shared. Recently, Rihanna has offered glimpses into their everyday life, painting a picture of a grounded family dynamic.
Just this Monday, the family was spotted enjoying a stroll through a Beverly Hills park, with Rihanna casually attired in jeans. Observant fans have noticed a substantial ring adorning her wedding finger in the past, sparking engagement speculation, although no official confirmation has been made.
At the Cannes Film Festival in May, Rocky once again added fuel to the fire when he referred to Rihanna as his ‘beautiful wife.’ Similar rings have been spotted on Rihanna’s finger – of differing shapes and sizes – ever since she and the rapper got together.
Rocky has appeared in a Los Angeles court to face gun charges and faces up to eight years in jail if convicted on two felony counts of assault with a semi-automatic firearm. He is pleading not guilty to the accusations, which stem from an incident in 2021. He allegedly shot fellow A$AP mob member Terell Ephron in the hand after threatening to ‘kill him.’ Mayers, the father of Rihanna’s two children, was seized in April last year as he returned to LAX airport after stepping off a private plane in Barbados, where he had been on vacation with his then-pregnant girlfriend.
During Rihanna’s first pregnancy A$AP was caught in a rumored cheating storm – although he has always denied the allegations. A British mother-of-three claimed that rapper had been ‘bombarding her with flirty messages’ and just weeks earlier he was forced to deny he had cheated on the singer with shoe designer Amina Muaddi (pictured). Jilly O’Donnell even claimed he had offered to pay £1,700 ($2k) to ‘fly her out to Ukraine’ to meet him. And Amina herself took to Instagram to fiercely deny the claims. She wrote: ‘I’ve always believed that an unfounded lie spread on social media doesn’t deserve any response or clarification, especially one that is so vile. I initially assumed that this fake gossip – fabricated with such malicious intent – would not be taken seriously.’
Rihanna dated the likes of Chris Brown , Drake and businessman Hassan Jameel in the past before finding love with A$AP Rocky in 2020. The two had been acquainted ever since the early 2010s, when they began performing and touring with each other. They first sparked rumors all the way back in 2012 when he grabbed her bottom during a heated performance at the MTV Awards. However, they both went on to date other people. Rihanna and Mayers remained friends for much of the decade before People confirmed that they were officially dating in November 2020.
The pair embarked on a romantic vacation to the singer’s native Barbados in December and the rapper spent Christmas with his girlfriend’s family. Mayers first spoke about their relationship in May 2021 in a GQ interview, where he called the Barbados born singer ‘the love of his life.’ The Fashion Killa hitmaker said: ‘She amounts to probably like, a million of the other ones…. I think when you know, you know. She’s the One.’ Read the full story:
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Inside the NSW Liberals’ ICAC Inquiry: Reformers, Scandals, and Angus Taylor’s Denial Uncovered
From clandestine files to alleged influence peddling and questionable donations, the initial phase of the New South Wales Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) inquiry has spotlighted the intricate web of factionalism and lobbying within the state’s Liberal Party.
This week, Sydney witnessed the commencement of hearings that delve into the purported actions of a religious conservative faction within the NSW Liberal Party from 2019 to 2023. These proceedings aim to unravel the political intricacies and undisclosed alliances that have long been whispered in the corridors of power.
The sessions have already paraded a notable cast of characters—from the notorious property developer Jean Nassif to Dominic Perrottet’s brother, drawing connections between political influence and personal interests.
Even Angus Taylor, the federal Opposition leader, has found himself caught in the hearings’ expansive net. While his name surfaced in allegedly incriminating messages concerning unreported donations, Taylor staunchly denies these claims and remains outside the scope of the current investigation.
ICAC’s probe into political dealings is not unprecedented. In 2023, the watchdog concluded that former Liberal premier Gladys Berejiklian had engaged in “serious corrupt conduct” in her dealings with ex-MP Daryl Maguire, marking a significant chapter in the state’s ongoing battle against political corruption.
So what have we learned so far?
What is Operation Rosny?
Operation Rosny is investigating a series of allegations that could constitute offences under the Electoral Funding Act 2018 (NSW) and potential corrupt conduct involving a right-wing faction of the NSW Liberal Party.
The investigations centre on allegations of branch-stacking — whether undisclosed and prohibited political donations were used to recruit and advance certain members of the Liberal Party.
There are three key allegations that will be explored — one of which is whether the prohibited donor Jean Nassif made undisclosed donations to damage the career of former NSW minister for transport and veterans, David Elliot.
Nassif may be a name familiar to many Sydneysiders. His defunct company, Toplace, is responsible for more than 20 apartment blocks with major structural defects, including Canterbury’s Vicinity apartments and Skyview in Castle Hill.
Toplace went into liquidation in 2023, and it’s understood Nassif now lives in Lebanon.
It’s alleged his donations were facilitated by a faction of the NSW Liberal Party called the “Reformers”.
Who are the ‘Reformers’?
The ‘Reformers’ are a secret faction of young, conservative Christians who, it’s alleged, sought to increase their numbers in the Liberal Party via undisclosed donations and corrupt conduct.
Messages tendered in evidence showed they wanted to promote conservative stances on issues such as abortion and euthanasia.
Key members include Dallas McInerney, who was CEO of Catholic Schools NSW until he was suspended in early July ahead of the investigation’s launch. The brothers of former NSW premier Dominic Perrottet, Charles and Jean-Claude Perrottet, have also been named.
Jean-Claude allegedly fled to Fiji when called to appear as a witness during a 2023 parliamentary inquiry examining similar claims to those before the corruption watchdog.
This time, texts between him and Jeremy Greenwood, a lobbyist for Catholic Schools NSW and fellow Reformer, were read out.
So far, we’ve heard from key Reformer Dylan Whitelaw, a former Liberal staffer who the inquiry heard allegedly prepared a dossier of damaging information against Elliott.
Who is caught up in the ‘s—t sheet’?
One of the most explosive allegations of the hearings so far involves a Word document dossier, titled “David Elliott s—t sheet.docx”, accusing Elliott of having an affair.
Elliott, a former minister of the Perrottet government who retired from politics in 2023, was a factional rival of the Reformers in the Liberal Party.
Elliott rejected the accusations made by the “religious right of the Liberal Party”, saying in a statement to Nine newspapers: “As most of Sydney knows, I’m a devoted husband of 30 years to a beautiful woman who doesn’t deserve to be treated like this by the party she has sacrificed so much for.”
Under questioning on Wednesday, Whitelaw said he couldn’t recall preparing the document but accepted evidence showing his involvement, and the involvement of Greenwood.
The inquiry pursued questions of Whitelaw’s awareness as to whether Greenwood was seeking to “damage Mr Elliott’s political career” to “further certain interests that Mr Nassif [property developer Jean Nassif] had”.
“I was aware they were attempting to damage Mr Elliott’s political career, but not because that’s what Mr Nassif wanted,” Whitelaw told the inquiry.
Why was Angus Taylor mentioned?
The federal Opposition leader is not under investigation by ICAC.
However, on Wednesday, Taylor’s name came up in questioning about a series of messages alleging Taylor was solicited by the Reformers for donations in his time as a cabinet minister under then-prime minister Scott Morrison.
A message from McInerney allegedly said in March 2021 that he would “shake down Angus for 10K”.
The inquiry then discussed an in-person meeting during which, according to messages between key Reformers, Taylor allegedly agreed to an initial payment of $15,000 followed by a monthly injection of $3,000.
When asked about the messages by the press on Wednesday, Taylor said: “I’m not going to give a running commentary on all of this. I’m not a party to the proceedings. No payment was made.”
What happens next?
With an estimated seven weeks of public hearings still to go, we can expect to hear a lot more from this investigation.
One claim raised by counsel assisting Peggy Dwyer in her opening statement — yet to be investigated — alleges Reformers received donations from Nassif for the purpose of removing the inaugural NSW Building Commissioner, an independent office established in 2019 to improve safety and compliance of new property developments.
Another key allegation yet to be investigated involves conduct by councillors from Strathfield Council, a small local government area in Sydney’s Inner West, that could constitute blackmail.
The hearings continue on Thursday.