Jennifer Lopez is reportedly grappling with intense emotions following her decision to file for divorce from Ben Affleck, with sources close to the situation revealing the star is “upset and disappointed” with her estranged husband.
The 55-year-old “Atlas” star officially filed for divorce on August 20, exactly two years after the couple’s lavish wedding celebration in Georgia. Court documents list April 26 as the date of separation, indicating the relationship had been strained for months before the public announcement.
“It’s really hit her hard,” an insider told PEOPLE magazine, speaking about Lopez’s current emotional state. “She’s very upset and disappointed with Ben.” The source’s comments shed light on the personal toll the split is taking on the multi-talented performer.
The divorce filing comes after a summer spent largely apart, fueling speculation about the state of their relationship. Lopez’s decision to file without an attorney present has been interpreted by legal experts as a sign that she “just wanted to get this done” and move forward, suggesting a desire for a swift resolution to the marriage.
Adding to Lopez’s emotional burden is the couple’s shared $60 million Beverly Hills mansion, purchased in May 2023. “She and Ben bought the house for the whole family. It’s way too big for her and filled with too many memories as well,” the source revealed, highlighting the practical and emotional challenges Lopez now faces.
The property was intended to be a home for their blended family, which includes Affleck’s three children with ex-wife Jennifer Garner – Violet (18), Seraphina (15), and Samuel (12) – as well as Lopez’s 16-year-old twins, Max and Emme, from her previous marriage to Marc Anthony.
Despite the difficult circumstances, another source indicated that Lopez is “doing as well as she can” and even “seems relieved” after taking the step to file for divorce. This insider noted that Lopez had initially hoped to salvage the relationship, stating, “She didn’t want a divorce. She wanted to figure things out.”
As Lopez navigates this challenging period, Affleck was spotted dining out with longtime friend and collaborator Matt Damon and Damon’s wife Luciana at Los Angeles restaurant Toscana on Sunday, August 25. Sources describe the 52-year-old Oscar-winning filmmaker as “doing well and very focused” in the wake of the divorce filing.
Real Madrid continues their La Liga campaign with a midweek trip to the Canary Islands, facing Las Palmas at the Estadio Gran Canaria on Thursday night. Carlo Ancelotti’s side, fresh off their first league win of the season, looks to maintain momentum against a Las Palmas team striving for survival in Spain’s top flight.
The match, set to kick off at 20:30 BST, sees Real Madrid making their second journey away from the mainland this season. They’ll aim to improve on their previous away performance, a 1-1 draw against Mallorca in their season opener.
Real Madrid enters the fixture buoyed by a convincing 3-0 victory over Real Valladolid last Sunday, where Brazilian sensation Endrick notched his first goal for the club. The win was a marked improvement from their season start, showcasing the offensive prowess that makes them title contenders.
Las Palmas, under new manager Luis Miguel Carrion, faces a stern test as they seek to build on their single point from two matches. The hosts will be without former Manchester United prospect Adnan Januzaj, sidelined with a muscle injury until after the September international break.
Ancelotti is expected to rotate his squad, with Luka Modric potentially making his first start of the season. The Italian tactician will, however, be without injured midfielders Jude Bellingham and Eduardo Camavinga. Turkish international Arda Guler could retain his place in the starting lineup after a rare start in the previous match.
Real Madrid’s attack will be spearheaded by Kylian Mbappe, supported by the dynamic Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo. The defensive line sees the return of Ferland Mendy from suspension, likely to slot in at left-back.
Las Palmas’ lineup features Scottish internationals Oli McBurnie and Scott McKenna, adding a British flavor to the Spanish side’s roster. Their primary challenge will be containing Madrid’s star-studded attack while seeking to exploit any defensive vulnerabilities on the counter.
Historical head-to-head records heavily favor Real Madrid, who have won four of the last five encounters between the sides. Their most recent meeting in January saw Madrid come from behind to secure a 2-1 victory in Gran Canaria.
As Real Madrid continues to integrate new signings and adapt their system, particularly with Mbappe leading the line, this match presents an opportunity to fine-tune their approach. Las Palmas, meanwhile, will be eager to prove they can compete against La Liga’s elite as they battle for top-flight survival.
With the combination of Real Madrid’s offensive firepower and Las Palmas’ determination to upset the odds, Thursday’s clash promises to be an intriguing spectacle in the early stages of the La Liga season.
Atletico Madrid endured a frustrating night at the Metropolitano Stadium, failing to find the net despite 25 attempts on goal in a 0-0 draw against newly-promoted Espanyol in Wednesday’s Spanish league match. The result marks Atletico’s second draw in three matches to start the season, while Espanyol secured their first point since returning to the top tier.
Diego Simeone’s side thought they had broken the deadlock twice in the second half through Rodrigo Riquelme, including a goal deep into stoppage time. However, both efforts were disallowed due to offside decisions, compounding Atletico’s frustration.
“The team played very well but we lacked efficiency in front of the goal,” Simeone reflected post-match. “We got off to a strong start in the first half, but then there was a bit of a letdown. We tried until the end but the ball didn’t go in because of our lack of efficiency.”
The stalemate comes after Atletico’s convincing 3-0 victory over Girona on Sunday, which followed an opening day 2-2 draw at Villarreal. In contrast, Espanyol managed only one attempt on goal throughout the match, highlighting the home side’s dominance despite the scoreline.
Elsewhere in La Liga, Barcelona maintained their perfect start to the season with a 2-1 win at Rayo Vallecano on Tuesday, making them the only team with three wins from three matches. Defending champions Real Madrid will aim for their second victory when they visit Las Palmas on Thursday, having drawn their opener 1-1 at Mallorca.
In other results, Athletic Bilbao secured their first win of the season with a 1-0 home victory over Valencia, leaving the visitors rooted to the bottom of the table after three consecutive losses. Alaves also celebrated their maiden win, coming from behind to defeat Real Sociedad 2-1 away, despite the hosts playing with ten men for most of the match following Mikel Oyarzabal’s 29th-minute red card.
The day’s action concluded with a goalless draw between promoted sides Valladolid and Leganes, as both teams continue to find their footing in the top flight.
As the league table begins to take shape, Atletico’s inability to convert chances against Espanyol may raise concerns for Simeone, particularly with challenging fixtures on the horizon. The team will be eager to rediscover their scoring touch and build momentum in the coming weeks to keep pace with their title rivals.
Lionel Messi, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, has returned to group training with Inter Miami on Wednesday, marking a significant step in his recovery from a severe right ankle sprain suffered during the Copa America final over six weeks ago.
While there is no official timeline for Messi’s return to match play, his presence in training has boosted the spirits of his teammates. Inter Miami, currently leading Major League Soccer this season, faces a decision on whether to include Messi in their upcoming match against Chicago on Saturday or to allow him additional recovery time until their September 14 fixture against Philadelphia.
Inter Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender expressed enthusiasm about Messi’s return to the training field. “To see him on the field is great,” Callender said after Wednesday’s session. “I know he’s been getting treatment every single day, training every single day. He’s dealt with things before. He’s been there, done that and he’s still doing it at the highest level.”
Messi’s impact on Inter Miami has been substantial, with 12 goals and 13 assists in just 12 MLS appearances this season. However, he has missed 14 of the club’s league matches, including the last eight, due to international duty with Argentina and his ankle injury recovery. His absence was also felt during Inter Miami’s four Leagues Cup matches as the team attempted to defend their title from the previous year.
The Argentine captain was not selected for his national team’s World Cup qualifiers in early September, allowing him to focus on his club recovery. This decision underscores the delicate balance between club and country commitments for international stars like Messi.
As Inter Miami enters a crucial phase of the MLS season, Messi’s return could prove pivotal. The team’s management and medical staff will likely exercise caution in determining the optimal timing for his competitive return, weighing the immediate need against long-term considerations for both the player and the club.
Messi’s journey back to full fitness is being closely monitored by soccer fans worldwide, highlighting his enduring influence on the sport and the growing profile of MLS as it hosts one of the game’s all-time greats.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has grounded SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rockets and ordered an investigation following a predawn accident Wednesday where a booster rocket toppled over in flames while landing off the Florida coast. No injuries or public damage were reported, but the incident has put SpaceX launches on hold.
The accident occurred after a successful launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, which delivered 21 Starlink internet satellites into orbit. However, the first-stage booster, on its record 23rd flight, fell over in a fireball moments after landing on an ocean platform, marking the first such accident for SpaceX in years.
In response, the FAA has mandated that SpaceX must receive approval for its accident findings and corrective actions before resuming Falcon 9 launches. This decision led to the immediate cancellation of a planned launch from California carrying more Starlink satellites.
The grounding comes at a critical time for SpaceX, potentially impacting upcoming crew flights, including a private mission and a NASA flight. Just hours before the accident, a billionaire’s chartered flight had been delayed due to poor weather forecasts.
Jon Edwards, a SpaceX vice president, addressed the incident on social media platform X, stating the company is working “ASAP” to understand the cause of the failure. “Losing a booster is always sad. Each one of them has a unique history and character. Thankfully this doesn’t happen often,” Edwards posted.
The incident’s timing is particularly sensitive given SpaceX’s upcoming launches. Besides the private spaceflight awaiting liftoff from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center, the company is scheduled to launch a pair of astronauts for NASA late next month. This mission includes provisions for two astronauts who launched in June aboard Boeing’s new Starliner capsule, now deemed unsafe by NASA for their return.
Authorities in the Florida Keys have reported that tourists discovered a package containing 16 bricks of suspected cocaine on a local beach, marking the latest in a series of similar findings along Florida’s shores this year.
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office stated that guests at the Islands of Islamorada resort found the package late Sunday morning. Following standard procedure, the suspected drugs were turned over to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The sheriff’s office released a photo of the cocaine, showing a wrapped and taped package adorned with an image resembling a dune buggy.
This incident is at least the sixth reported discovery of cocaine on or near Florida’s coastline in 2024. Earlier incidents include:
In August, Hurricane Debby blew 25 packages of cocaine, worth over $1 million, onto a Florida Keys beach. June saw two separate incidents: boaters found 65 pounds of cocaine floating off the Keys’ coast, and divers discovered 25 kilograms about 100 feet underwater near Key West. In May, a beachgoer stumbled upon approximately $1 million worth of cocaine washed up in the Florida Keys.
The frequency of these discoveries highlights the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement in combating drug trafficking in the region. Researchers at the United Nations estimate that about 90% of cocaine consumed in North America originates from Colombia. Traffickers often attempt to smuggle the drugs across the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean using speedboats and semi-submersible vessels, known as narco subs.
Experts note that cocaine found on beaches can result from traffickers dumping their cargo to evade law enforcement or from failed handoffs between smugglers. Ocean currents and storms can then carry the discarded drugs to shore, as explained by Scientific American.
Jamaican police have confirmed that a shark attack claimed the life of a 16-year-old high school student, Jahmari Reid, from the northern parish of Trelawny. The teenager’s body was discovered by fishermen in waters just north of the island, bearing injuries consistent with a shark attack.
Authorities reported that Reid had apparently gone spearfishing alone early Monday. His body was found the following day, with police issuing a statement late Tuesday detailing the tragic incident.
This attack marks a rare occurrence in Jamaican waters. According to the International Shark Attack File, administered by the Florida Museum of Natural History and the American Elasmobranch Society, only three unprovoked shark attacks have been reported in Jamaica since 1749.
The incident contributes to global shark attack statistics, which remain relatively low. In 2023, a total of 69 confirmed unprovoked attacks were recorded worldwide, resulting in 14 fatalities. The International Shark Attack File noted a “disproportionate” number of deaths from shark bites in Australia last year compared to other countries, with Australia accounting for approximately 22% of the world’s unprovoked shark attacks in 2023.
Recent months have seen several high-profile shark attacks globally. In July, a surfer in Australia lost his leg in an encounter with a great white shark. The previous month, renowned surfer Tamayo Perry suffered fatal injuries in a shark attack off Oahu, Hawaii. January saw a young fisherman killed by a shark while diving for scallops off Mexico’s Pacific coast.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday the addition of 92 Americans to its list of individuals banned from entering the country. The expanded list includes journalists who previously worked in Russia, as well as U.S. law enforcement and business figures.
In a statement, the ministry described the move as a response to the “Russophobic course pursued by the Biden administration with the declared goal of ‘inflicting a strategic defeat on Moscow’.” The ministry specifically targeted what it called “leading liberal-globalist publications involved in the production and dissemination of ‘fakes’ about Russia and the Russian armed forces.”
Among the newly banned individuals are 11 current or former staff members of the Wall Street Journal, including its editor Emma Tucker. Tucker had been vocal in her criticism of Russia following the arrest and conviction on espionage charges of WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich, who spent 16 months in Russian custody before being released in August as part of a large-scale prisoner exchange between Russia and the West.
The ban also extends to five journalists from The New York Times, including Kyiv bureau chief Andrew Kramer, and four from The Washington Post. Additionally, the list includes individuals working for law enforcement agencies, academics, and representatives from businesses and think tanks.
This latest action brings the total number of Americans banned from entering Russia to over 2,000, according to the ministry’s records. The move reflects the ongoing tensions between Russia and the United States, particularly in the realm of media and information dissemination.
Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of messaging app Telegram, has narrowly avoided pretrial detention in France by agreeing to pay a €5 million bail and adhere to strict travel restrictions. A French judge placed Durov under formal investigation on Wednesday as part of a probe into organized crime activities on the Telegram platform.
The decision comes four days after Durov’s arrest at an airport near Paris. Under the terms set by the court, Durov must report to police twice weekly and is prohibited from leaving French territory. These conditions allow him to remain free while the investigation proceeds.
In the French legal system, being placed under formal investigation does not imply guilt or necessarily lead to a trial. It indicates that judges have found sufficient evidence to pursue a more in-depth inquiry, which can last for years before potentially going to trial or being dismissed.
Durov’s case has thrust into the spotlight the issue of criminal liability for messaging app providers. It has ignited debate on the delicate balance between freedom of speech and law enforcement, particularly concerning encrypted communication platforms like Telegram, which boasts nearly a billion users worldwide.
The arrest and subsequent legal proceedings have also highlighted the often-strained relationship between governments and Telegram. The platform has faced scrutiny in various countries due to its strong encryption and perceived lack of cooperation with law enforcement agencies.
Defendant allegedly murdered a pregnant young woman and staged her death to look like a suicide to prevent law enforcement from learning about their sexual relationship which began when she was a minor
BOSTON – A former Stoughton, Mass. police officer has been charged in federal court in Boston with allegedly murdering a young woman to prevent her from disclosing information about his longstanding sexual exploitation of her while he was on duty, beginning when she was a minor.
Matthew Farwell, 38, of North Easton, Mass., has been indicted on one count of killing a witness or victim. Farwell was arrested this morning and will make an initial appearance in federal court in Boston at 2:30 p.m. today.
According to the indictment, on or about Feb. 1, 2021, Farwell allegedly killed Sandra Birchmore by strangulation. It is alleged that Farwell staged her body and apartment to make it appear as if Birchmore had committed suicide.
The indictment alleges that Farwell killed Birchmore with the intent to prevent law enforcement from learning about Farwell’s commission or possible commission of federal offenses.
According to court documents, Farwell was a sworn officer of the Stoughton Police Department beginning on or about March 27, 2012, until on or about April 1, 2022.
In his capacity as a police officer, Farwell served as an instructor for the Stoughton Police Department’s Explorer’s Program, which is a vocational education program designed for youth to learn about careers in law enforcement.
Sandra Birchmore joined the Stoughton Explorers Program in 2010, when she was 12 years old. Farwell allegedly used his authority and access to groom, sexually exploit and ultimately sexually abuse Birchmore when she was 15 years old and continued to have sex with her when she became an adult.
On several occasions, Farwell allegedly engaged in sex acts with Birchmore while on duty as a Stoughton police officer. To conceal this activity, it is alleged that Farwell falsely represented that he had worked certain hours, when in fact he was not working but engaging in sex acts with the then-minor victim. Farwell’s sexual contact with Birchmore continued until her death on Feb. 1, 2021.
In December 2020, Birchmore learned that she was pregnant. According to court documents, she was excited about the pregnancy: scheduling doctors’ appointments, purchasing items for childcare and telling loved ones how happy she was to become a mother.
Soon after she learned she was pregnant, Birchmore told Farwell that he was the father of the child and that she expected him to be involved, at least in part, in the child’s life.
Birchmore disclosed to loved ones that Farwell allegedly became violent with her when they discussed the pregnancy and his role in the child’s life. At one point while she was pregnant, Farwell allegedly held Birchmore in a headlock and told her that he wished she were dead.
On or about Jan. 20, 2021, Birchmore’s friend called the Stoughton Police Department and referenced Farwell and Birchmore’s sexual relationship. Upon learning this, Farwell allegedly then sent Birchmore angry text messages and, a few days later – approximately one week prior to Birchmore’s death – Farwell visited Birchmore at her apartment in Canton and asked her if she could give him a spare apartment key and keep it a secret.
It is further alleged that one week prior to her death, Farwell visited Birchmore’s apartment and began looking through her closets and bathroom, conduct which made her uncomfortable.
The court documents allege that, on Feb. 1, 2021, facing perceived imminent disclosure of his criminal conduct, Farwell murdered Birchmore to silence her.
According to court documents, while Birchmore’s death was initially ruled a suicide, the federal investigation probed old evidence and revealed critical new evidence leading to the charge against Farwell.
The charge of killing a witness or victim carries a mandatory sentence of death or life in prison. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today.
The Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, Massachusetts State Police, Stoughton Police Department and Norfolk District Attorney’s Office provided assistance in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Riley, Torey B. Cummings and Brian A. Fogerty of the office’s Human Trafficking & Civil Rights Unit are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
