Rachel McAdams Recalls Being Told She Was ‘Too Old’ to Play the Lead in “Mean Girls”: ‘I Took It as a Compliment’ (Exclusive)

CBS via Getty

NEED TO KNOW

• Rachel McAdams recalls to PEOPLE how she originally auditioned for Lindsay Lohan's role in Mean Girls

• "I just did not think I was at that point in my life where I would be chosen for that," she says

• She was ultimately cast as the film's villain Regina George

Rachel McAdamsmade pop culture history with her biting teen queen Regina George — but her first audition for 2004'sMean Girlswas for a very different part.

The Ontario native initially read for Cady Heron, the naive protagonist ultimately played by Lindsay Lohan, then 17. At 25, "I remember thinking, 'This is a futile exercise. I will never be hired for Cady,' " McAdams tells PEOPLE in this week's issue, on stands now.

"I was just starting out, and it was the main character," theSend Helpstar continues. "I just did not think I was at that point in my life where I would be chosen for that. So I just kind of went in and had fun."

McAdams, 47, recalls just wanting to be part of the "brilliant" Tina Fey's film. "I loved the script so much. I remember closing that script and calling up my manager and saying, 'Please, even just playing a character that has one line I would take.' "

Michael Gibson/Paramount/Kobal/Shutterstock

Mean Girlsdirector Mark Waters offered up the ultimate twist. "You're too old to play Cady, but you're just right for Regina," he said. "Regina has been around the block a few times and maybe has a, I don't know if I'd call her an old soul, but she's got a few more miles on her than Cady," McAdams tells PEOPLE. "So I took it as a compliment."

And whenMean Girlshit theaters in April 2004, history was made. "Playing the villain is the best," she says. Two months later,The Notebookwas released in theaters, cementing McAdams as a fierce new talent on the rise.

The timing was "just something totally out of my control," she says. "I've heard that maybe luck gets your foot in the door, but it doesn't keep you in the room. I don't know who said that, but I think that's really true."

Katie Jones/Variety/Penske Media via Getty

She adds, "They were two totally different movies, back to back and they both got some attention. So that's where I really think the luck of the draw was for me in my life."

Over two decades later, McAdams' career has spanned genres and delivered countless hits, from the iconic comedyWedding Crashers("so much fun" to film "it did not feel like work," she says) and the best-selling adaptation ofThe Time Traveler's Wifeto Marvel'sDoctor Strangeblockbusters and her Oscar nominated turn for 2015'sSpotlight."I feel really lucky to still be here," she says. "I'm still pinching myself."

McAdams' new psychological thrillerSend Helpis in theaters now.

Read the original article onPeople

byCristiano Ronaldo

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, ShowBiz, Sports

January 31, 2026

Rachel McAdams Recalls Being Told She Was ‘Too Old’ to Play the Lead in “Mean Girls”: ‘I Took It as a Compliment’ (Exclusive)

CBS via Getty NEED TO KNOW Rachel McAdams recalls to PEOPLE how she originally auditioned for Lindsay Lohan's role in Mean Girls ...

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Critics Savage Melania Documentary: 6% Rotten Tomatoes Score Lower Than “Cats”

The reviews are in, and they're brutal.Brett Ratner's $75 million documentary aboutMelania Trumphas received a miserable 6 percent rating among criticson Rotten Tomatoes, making it one of the worst-reviewed films in recent memory.

Released this weekend, theMelaniadocumentary has been absolutely eviscerated by entertainment journalists. The film's dismal score sits below even the infamous 2019 musicalCats, which at least managed to scrape together a 19% rating.

The Daily Beast'sKevin Fallondidn't hold back, calling the project "a level of insipid propaganda that almost resists review; it's so expected and utterly pointless." Meanwhile,Variety'sOwen Gleibermandelivered an equally devastating critique, describing it as "so orchestrated and airbrushed and stage-managed that it barely rises to the level of a shameless infomercial."

The documentary follows the First Lady during the 20 days leading up toDonald Trump's second inauguration. However, what was intended as an intimate portrait has instead been labeled everything from boring to dangerous propaganda.

The Hollywood Reporter'sFrank Schecknoted the film "fawns so lavishly over its subject that you feel downright unpatriotic not gushing over it." He went further, writing that the film ends with "onscreen graphics listing Melania's achievements as first lady in such laudatory fashion that North Korea would blush."

Perhaps most damning isThe Guardian'sCatherine Shoard, who called the documentary "exhaustingly boring and chillingly vain." She observed that the First Lady "has no friends" and appears to maintain "an entirely airless existence."

The Atlanticwent nuclear on the project, declaring it "a disgrace" and arguing that "Melaniathe movie isn't a documentary; it's a protection racket."

Adding to the controversy,Rolling Stonereported that two-thirds of the film's New York-based crew didn't want to be credited. One crew member told the publication they hoped it "flops," while another confessed, "I feel a little bit uncomfortable with the propaganda element of this."

Box office projections appear equally grim. Early reports suggest the film has sold out at just two theaters nationwide despite opening in approximately 1,500 to 2,000 locations. That's a catastrophic performance for Amazon MGM's reported investment.

Only one major outlet offered anything resembling praise.The London Evening Standardgave it three out of five stars, though even that review questioned whether the film was "worth $40 million."

The harsh reviews extend beyond political disagreements. Critics specifically targeted director Brett Ratner's filmmaking choices, withTheWrap's reviewer noting he "couldn't find the humanity in a funeral," referring to footage ofPresident Jimmy Carter's service.

As the documentary limps through its opening weekend, one thing is clear: the reviews forMelaniaare among the most scathing in recent entertainment history.

EDITOR'S PICKS

byCristiano Ronaldo

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, ShowBiz, Sports

January 31, 2026

Critics Savage Melania Documentary: 6% Rotten Tomatoes Score Lower Than “Cats”

The reviews are in, and they're brutal.Brett Ratner's $75 million documentary aboutMelania Trumphas received a miserable 6 percent ...

Read More

“Dirty Dancing 2”: What We Know So Far About the Sequel to the Nearly 40-Year-Old Movie

Jennifer Grey is reprising her role as Frances "Baby" Houseman in a sequel to Dirty Dancing

NEED TO KNOW

• Dying for Sex co-creator Kim Rosenstock will pen the script

• Production on the Dirty Dancing sequel is set to start later this year

Grab a watermelon and get ready to return to Kellerman's!

Nearly 40 years since the originalDirty Dancingcha-chaed into theaters,Jennifer Greyconfirmed on Jan. 27 that she will reprise her role as Frances "Baby" Houseman in an upcoming legacy sequel to the 1987 classic.

"We are moving full steam ahead so that both existing fans and new audiences can discover the magic, the music and the emotion that isDirty Dancingin a new theatrical film meant for the big screen," Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chairman Adam Fogelson said in a statement.

Dirty Dancing's popularity endures, decades after its release, and in 2020, Grey told PEOPLE that the movie's "appeal was that it was verygenuine and simple."

"It was about innocence and the way that innocence is lost and how people explode into a different iteration of themselves," she said about the coming-of-age classic.

Here's everything we know so far aboutDirty Dancing 2.

What willDirty Dancing 2be about?

The plot for theDirty Dancingsequel remains under wraps, butDying for Sexcreator Kim Rosenstock will pen the script.

The upcoming installment will be from Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson, who producedThe Hunger GamesandCrazy Rich Asians.

"Dirty Dancingis that rare film that is as emotional, exhilarating, and rebellious today as it was the year it was released," Jacobson said in a statement. "To be able to work with Jennifer Grey and Lionsgate on the sequel is a genuine joy for Brad and me. We feel so fortunate to have been invited back to Kellerman's for one more dance."

While plot details are unknown, when the sequel wasfirst announcedin August 2020, Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer toldDeadlinethat the film would be "exactly the kind of romantic, nostalgic movie that the franchise's fans have been waiting for and that have made it the biggest-selling library title in the Company's history."

Who will be in theDirty Dancing 2cast?

Jim Smeal/Ron Galella Collection via Getty; Taylor Hill/FilmMagic

A full cast has not been announced for theDirty Dancingsequel, but Grey will be returning to reprise her role as Frances "Baby" Houseman from the original.

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"The role of Baby has held a very deep and meaningful place in my heart, as it has in the hearts of so many fans over the years," the actress said in a statement.

"I've long wondered where we might find Baby years later and what her life might be like," she continued. "But it's taken time to assemble the kind of people that I felt could be entrusted to build on the legacy of the original film ... and I'm excited to say that it looks like the wait will soon be over!"

Grey'sDirty Dancingcostar,Patrick Swayze, died in 2009 of pancreatic cancer. When asked about making a sequel without him, Grey told PEOPLE, "All I can say is there is no replacing anyone who's passed."

"You never try to repeat anything that's magic like that," she said. "You just go for something different."

Who is directingDirty Dancing 2?

A director for theDirty Dancingsequel has not been confirmed.

When the project was announced in 2020, Jonathan Levine was attached as director, but he will now serve as an executive producer, according toThe Hollywood Reporter.

When isDirty Dancing 2being filmed?

Snap/Shutterstock

Production on theDirty Dancingsequel is set to begin later in 2026.

Filming locations for the sequel have not been revealed, but the original was shot at Mountain Lake Lodge in Virginia and Lake Lure in North Carolina, according toThe New York Times.

When isDirty Dancing 2coming out?

Vestron/Kobal/Shutterstock

A release date has not been announced for theDirty Dancingsequel.

Where can I watch the originalDirty Dancing?

1987'sDirty Dancingis available for digital rental and purchase on various platforms, includingApple TVandPrime Video.

The movie will be available to stream onTubistarting Feb. 1.

Read the original article onPeople

byCristiano Ronaldo

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, ShowBiz, Sports

January 31, 2026

“Dirty Dancing 2”: What We Know So Far About the Sequel to the Nearly 40-Year-Old Movie

Jennifer Grey is reprising her role as Frances "Baby" Houseman in a sequel to Dirty Dancing NEED TO K...

Read More

Hospitals on alert as Egypt readies for opening of Rafah crossing to Gaza's wounded

A key border crossing betweenthe Gaza Stripand Egypt is expected to partially open on Sunday morning, with Egyptian officials readying help for sickand injured Palestinians.

Dozens of Egyptian ambulances have assembled in front of the Rafah crossing gateon the Egyptian side. Hospitals in North Sinai are also on high alert and prepared to receive Palestinians arriving from Gaza in need of care.

Israel's Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories said in a statement that the crossing will open on Sunday for the "limited movement of people only," with entry and exits from Gaza permitted "in coordination with Egypt, following prior security clearance of individuals by Israel."

For residents who left Gaza during the war, re-entry will only be permitted after clearance by Israel and additional screening and identification processes, the statement said.

The Associated Press, citing an Israeli official, has reported that only 50 medical evacuees will be permitted to exit Gaza each day. Medical evacuations were similarly prioritized under past ceasefire deals.

The opening comes just days after the remains ofthe last hostage held by Hamasin Gaza, 24-year-old police officer Ran Gvili, were returned to Israel on Monday, completing a key pillar of the truce after tensions over delays and accusations of ceasefire violations. Israel has repeatedly postponed reopening the crossing, signaling it would not open until the bodies of all the hostages were recovered.

Khaled Mujawir, the governor of Egypt's North Sinai province, told Egyptian state television earlier this week that officials are "100% ready" for the crossing to open, according to the Anadolu news agency. He also expressed hope that the crossing would be opened to aid convoys.

The Rafah crossing, the main checkpoint between Gaza and Egypt, has long been the primary gateway to the rest of the world for Palestinians living in the enclave, and now it is a considered a lifeline for the tens of thousands in need of treatment outside the territory, where the majority of medical infrastructure has been destroyed.

The reopening marks the first major step of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire's second phase, after the first phase came into effect nearly four months ago.

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The second stage of the truce will alsorequire the disarmament of Hamas, a key sticking point in negotiations, as well as the development of Trump's international force to oversee security in Gaza.

For months, only Gvili's remains had yet to be returned, with Israel announcing their recovery Monday after launching a sweeping operation to locate them amid mounting pressure from the Trump administration to move forward with the next phase of the deal.

Hundreds of thousands of families across Gaza have been forced to wait out the first phase of the ceasefire in makeshift tents with little protection from the winter weather, as heavy rains flooded campsites.

While the ceasefire brought an end to the most severe attacks on the enclave, Israel has killed more than 500 people in Gaza since the ceasefire began, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry in the enclave, with Israel and Hamas both accusing the other of violating the truce.

Hospitals in Gaza saidIsraeli strikes killed at least 29 Palestinians Saturday, one of the highest tolls since the October ceasefire began.

Israel's military said in a statement that Saturday's strikes followed what it described as ceasefire violations a day earlier, when the army killed at least four militants emerging from a tunnel in an Israeli-controlled area.

For Palestinians on the ground, the crossing reopening would be a small glimmer of light.

"We hope the Rafah crossing opens so we can travel freely and meet many of our family members, those who have been forcibly displaced outside the Gaza Strip," Duaa Basem Al-Masri, a 26-year-old pharmacist from Beit Hanoun, told NBC News earlier this week.

She hoped the progress would soon also see the entry of "medical aid, medicines and proper shelter equipment into the strip, to ease the suffering" in Gaza.

"We hope there will be international pressure on them from President Donald Trump," Basem Al-Masri said.

byCristiano Ronaldo

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, ShowBiz, Sports

January 31, 2026

Hospitals on alert as Egypt readies for opening of Rafah crossing to Gaza's wounded

A key border crossing betweenthe Gaza Stripand Egypt is expected to partially open on Sunday morning, with Egyptian offic...

Read More

Chicago mayor tells police to probe allegations of illegal activity by immigration agents

By Kalea Hall

DETROIT, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has signed an executive order directing the city's police department ​to investigate any alleged illegal activity by federal immigration ‌agents and refer the agents for prosecution if necessary, his office said Saturday.

"With today's ‌order, we are putting ICE on notice in our city. Chicago will not sit idly by while Trump floods federal agents into our communities and terrorizes our residents," Johnson wrote in a statement.

The order instructs ⁠Chicago police officers to ‌preserve body-camera footage from incidents and identify the federal supervisory officer on scene. Chicago officers are also supposed ‍to complete reports on any state or local laws allegedly violated by federal agents.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a ​request for comment.

Federal agents are generally immune from state prosecution for actions taken ‌as part of their official duties. Immunity only applies when an officer's actions were authorized under federal law and were necessary and proper.

Prominent state and local Democratic leaders around the country have been pushing back against the Trump administration's immigration enforcement efforts, especially following the ⁠deaths of two U.S. citizens killed ​by federal agents in Minneapolis.

Minnesota officials sued ​the federal government over the surge of immigration officers in that state, but a federal judge on Saturday declined to ‍issue a preliminary ⁠injunction that would have ended the operation.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, introduced a bill on Friday aimed at ⁠banning local law enforcement from being deputized by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to ‌take part in immigration enforcement operations.

(Reporting by Kalea Hall; ‌Editing by Sergio Non, Rod Nickel)

byCristiano Ronaldo

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, ShowBiz, Sports

January 31, 2026

Chicago mayor tells police to probe allegations of illegal activity by immigration agents

By Kalea Hall DETROIT, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has signed an executive order directing ...

Read More

Pope gets invitation to visit Peru during a Vatican garden party, then stays for lunch

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Peru's ambassador to the Holy See publicly invited Pope Leo XIV to visit his second homeland on Saturday, as 2026 is shaping up to be an important year for the pontiff's travel with big trips under study for Africa and South America.

In recent days, the president of Equatorial Guinea and the Vatican ambassador in Angola have both confirmed that plans are underway for a papal trip this year, on top of rumored stops in Cameroon and Algeria. No dates have been announced but Vatican officials say the four-country Africa visit would likely take place sometime after Easter.

Leo himself has saidhe wants his second trip as pope to be in Africa, especially Algeria, which has special significance for Leo's Augustinian religious order. Algeria also plays an important role in Christian-Muslim relations that the Vatican is keen to highlight.

Leo has also said he hoped to visit three countries in Latin America in either 2026 or 2027: Argentina, Uruguay and Peru, where he lived for two decades as a missionary and where he holds citizenship. Argentina especially has been waiting for a papal visit, after Pope Francis never went home after his 2013 election.

On Saturday, Peru's new ambassador to the Vatican, Jorge Ponce San Roman, publicly invited Leo to visit during a ceremony in the Vatican gardens to inaugurate a new mosaic and statue dedicated to the Virgin Mary that Peru sponsored.

With all Peru's bishops on hand, Ponce said he and his fellow citizens "hoped to see you very soon in Peru."

Leo didn't respond but in his brief remarks at the ceremony recalled Peru was "such a beloved country to me."

In a break with usual protocol, Leo then stayed for a buffet lunch that the Peruvian Embassy organized for the invited diplomats and Vatican officials in the gardens. For around an hour, Leo sat with Ponce and the Peruvian bishops in a shady, hidden spot back where the caterers were preparing pisco sour cocktails and plates of ravioli with huancaina, the typical Peruvian creamy sauce.

Despite an occasional rain, the party had a joyful, relaxed vibe and Leo's prolonged presence suggested he feels very much at home with his fellow Peruvians.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP'scollaborationwith The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

byCristiano Ronaldo

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, ShowBiz, Sports

January 31, 2026

Pope gets invitation to visit Peru during a Vatican garden party, then stays for lunch

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Peru's ambassador to the Holy See publicly invited Pope Leo XIV to visit his second homeland on S...

Read More

Gas leak caused blast in Iran's Bandar Abbas, Iranian media say

Jan 31 (Reuters) - An explosion that hit a building in the southern Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas on Saturday was caused by a gas leak, according to a preliminary assessment, the local head of the fire department said.

Earlier, Iranian state ​media reported that at least one person had been killed and 14 injured in the blast, which comes amid heightened tensions ‌between Tehran and Washington over Iran's crackdown earlier this month on nationwide protests and over the country's nuclear programme.

"This (gas leak) is the preliminary assessment. My colleagues will give more ‌details in the next few hours," Mohammad Amin Liaqat, the fire department chief, said in a video published by Iran's semi-official Mehr news agency.

A video published on social media showed people standing among debris and wrecked cars in front of a damaged building following the explosion.

Reuters was able to verify the location by analysing buildings, trees, and road layout, which matched satellite and file imagery. Reuters could not independently verify the date the video was filmed.

Separately, four ⁠people were killed after another gas explosion in the ‌city of Ahvaz near the Iraqi border, according to state-run Tehran Times. No further information was immediately available.

NERVES STRAINED AS TRUMP PILES PRESSURE ON IRAN

The explosions highlighted the jittery mood prevailing in Iran amid its clerical rulers' ‍standoff with the Trump administration.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on January 22 an "armada" was heading toward Iran. Multiple sources said on Friday that Trump was weighing options against Iran that include targeted strikes on security forces.

Ali Larijani, a senior Iranian security official, said on X on Saturday that work on a framework for negotiations with ​the United States was progressing, downplaying what he described as an "atmosphere created by artificial media warfare."

Trump told Fox News correspondent Jacqui Heinrich that ‌Iran was "negotiating, so we'll see what happens," Heinrich wrote on X.

"You know, the last time they negotiated, we had to take out their nuclear, didn't work, you know. Then we took it out a different way, and we'll see what happens," Heinrich quoted Trump as saying.

Before the reports of the two blasts on Saturday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian accused U.S., Israeli and European leaders of exploiting Iran's economic problems, inciting unrest and providing people with the means to "tear the nation apart".

The semi-official Tasnim news agency said social media reports alleging that a Revolutionary Guard navy commander had been ⁠targeted in the Bandar Abbas explosion were "completely false".

Two Israeli officials told Reuters that ​Israel was not involved in Saturday's blasts. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a ​request for comment.

Bandar Abbas, home to Iran's most important container port, lies on the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway between Iran and Oman which handles about a fifth of the world's seaborne oil.

The port suffered a major explosion ‍last April that killed dozens and ⁠injured over 1,000 people. An investigative committee at the time blamed the blast on shortcomings in adherence to principles of civil defence and security.

Iran has been rocked by nationwide protests that erupted in December over economic hardship and have posed one of the toughest challenges ⁠to the country's clerical rulers.

U.S.-based rights group HRANA has said at least 6,500 people were killed in the protests, including hundreds of security personnel.

(Reporting by Dubai Newsroom and Menna ‌Alaa El-Din, Enas Alashray and Hatem Maher in Cairo; Additional reporting by Maayan Lubell in Jerusaleum, Phil Stewart in Washington ‌and Edward Carron in London; Editing by Gareth Jones and Nia Williams)

byCristiano Ronaldo

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, ShowBiz, Sports

January 31, 2026

Gas leak caused blast in Iran's Bandar Abbas, Iranian media say

Jan 31 (Reuters) - An explosion that hit a building in the southern Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas on Saturday was cau...

Read More

Hospitals on alert as Egypt readies for opening of Rafah crossing to Gaza's wounded

A key border crossing betweenthe Gaza Stripand Egypt is expected to partially open on Sunday morning, with Egyptian officials readying help for sickand injured Palestinians.

Dozens of Egyptian ambulances have assembled in front of the Rafah crossing gateon the Egyptian side. Hospitals in North Sinai are also on high alert and prepared to receive Palestinians arriving from Gaza in need of care.

Israel's Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories said in a statement that the crossing will open on Sunday for the "limited movement of people only," with entry and exits from Gaza permitted "in coordination with Egypt, following prior security clearance of individuals by Israel."

For residents who left Gaza during the war, re-entry will only be permitted after clearance by Israel and additional screening and identification processes, the statement said.

The Associated Press, citing an Israeli official, has reported that only 50 medical evacuees will be permitted to exit Gaza each day. Medical evacuations were similarly prioritized under past ceasefire deals.

The opening comes just days after the remains ofthe last hostage held by Hamasin Gaza, 24-year-old police officer Ran Gvili, were returned to Israel on Monday, completing a key pillar of the truce after tensions over delays and accusations of ceasefire violations. Israel has repeatedly postponed reopening the crossing, signaling it would not open until the bodies of all the hostages were recovered.

Khaled Mujawir, the governor of Egypt's North Sinai province, told Egyptian state television earlier this week that officials are "100% ready" for the crossing to open, according to the Anadolu news agency. He also expressed hope that the crossing would be opened to aid convoys.

The Rafah crossing, the main checkpoint between Gaza and Egypt, has long been the primary gateway to the rest of the world for Palestinians living in the enclave, and now it is a considered a lifeline for the tens of thousands in need of treatment outside the territory, where the majority of medical infrastructure has been destroyed.

The reopening marks the first major step of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire's second phase, after the first phase came into effect nearly four months ago.

Advertisement

The second stage of the truce will alsorequire the disarmament of Hamas, a key sticking point in negotiations, as well as the development of Trump's international force to oversee security in Gaza.

For months, only Gvili's remains had yet to be returned, with Israel announcing their recovery Monday after launching a sweeping operation to locate them amid mounting pressure from the Trump administration to move forward with the next phase of the deal.

Hundreds of thousands of families across Gaza have been forced to wait out the first phase of the ceasefire in makeshift tents with little protection from the winter weather, as heavy rains flooded campsites.

While the ceasefire brought an end to the most severe attacks on the enclave, Israel has killed more than 500 people in Gaza since the ceasefire began, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry in the enclave, with Israel and Hamas both accusing the other of violating the truce.

Hospitals in Gaza saidIsraeli strikes killed at least 29 Palestinians Saturday, one of the highest tolls since the October ceasefire began.

Israel's military said in a statement that Saturday's strikes followed what it described as ceasefire violations a day earlier, when the army killed at least four militants emerging from a tunnel in an Israeli-controlled area.

For Palestinians on the ground, the crossing reopening would be a small glimmer of light.

"We hope the Rafah crossing opens so we can travel freely and meet many of our family members, those who have been forcibly displaced outside the Gaza Strip," Duaa Basem Al-Masri, a 26-year-old pharmacist from Beit Hanoun, told NBC News earlier this week.

She hoped the progress would soon also see the entry of "medical aid, medicines and proper shelter equipment into the strip, to ease the suffering" in Gaza.

"We hope there will be international pressure on them from President Donald Trump," Basem Al-Masri said.

byCristiano Ronaldo

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, ShowBiz, Sports

January 31, 2026

Hospitals on alert as Egypt readies for opening of Rafah crossing to Gaza's wounded

A key border crossing betweenthe Gaza Stripand Egypt is expected to partially open on Sunday morning, with Egyptian offic...

Read More

Pope gets invitation to visit Peru during a Vatican garden party, then stays for lunch

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Peru's ambassador to the Holy See publicly invited Pope Leo XIV to visit his second homeland on Saturday, as 2026 is shaping up to be an important year for the pontiff's travel with big trips under study for Africa and South America.

In recent days, the president of Equatorial Guinea and the Vatican ambassador in Angola have both confirmed that plans are underway for a papal trip this year, on top of rumored stops in Cameroon and Algeria. No dates have been announced but Vatican officials say the four-country Africa visit would likely take place sometime after Easter.

Leo himself has saidhe wants his second trip as pope to be in Africa, especially Algeria, which has special significance for Leo's Augustinian religious order. Algeria also plays an important role in Christian-Muslim relations that the Vatican is keen to highlight.

Leo has also said he hoped to visit three countries in Latin America in either 2026 or 2027: Argentina, Uruguay and Peru, where he lived for two decades as a missionary and where he holds citizenship. Argentina especially has been waiting for a papal visit, after Pope Francis never went home after his 2013 election.

On Saturday, Peru's new ambassador to the Vatican, Jorge Ponce San Roman, publicly invited Leo to visit during a ceremony in the Vatican gardens to inaugurate a new mosaic and statue dedicated to the Virgin Mary that Peru sponsored.

With all Peru's bishops on hand, Ponce said he and his fellow citizens "hoped to see you very soon in Peru."

Leo didn't respond but in his brief remarks at the ceremony recalled Peru was "such a beloved country to me."

In a break with usual protocol, Leo then stayed for a buffet lunch that the Peruvian Embassy organized for the invited diplomats and Vatican officials in the gardens. For around an hour, Leo sat with Ponce and the Peruvian bishops in a shady, hidden spot back where the caterers were preparing pisco sour cocktails and plates of ravioli with huancaina, the typical Peruvian creamy sauce.

Despite an occasional rain, the party had a joyful, relaxed vibe and Leo's prolonged presence suggested he feels very much at home with his fellow Peruvians.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP'scollaborationwith The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

byCristiano Ronaldo

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, ShowBiz, Sports

January 31, 2026

Pope gets invitation to visit Peru during a Vatican garden party, then stays for lunch

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Peru's ambassador to the Holy See publicly invited Pope Leo XIV to visit his second homeland on S...

Read More

Which NFL player, coach has the most Super Bowl rings?

They're not quite the One Ring to Rule Them All, but given howSuper Bowl ringsare coveted by every NFL player, they're pretty close.

While many NFL stars would be happy with one "precious," more than a few pro football players have slipped multiple Super Bowl rings on their fingers throughout the league's history. A handful of players will be looking to join that group this year.

Two members of theSeattle Seahawks– linebackerErnest Jonesand wide receiverCooper Kupp– and threeNew England Patriots– defensive tackleMilton Williams, wide receiverMack Hollinsand cornerbackCarlton Davis– are seeking a second Super Bowl ring when the two teams face off in Super Bowl 60.

NFL NEWS, TAKES, FANTASY ADVICE:USA TODAY Sports has you covered with our NFL vodcast

Conversely, neither of the head coaches in this year's Super Bowl has won a championship as a coach. Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel won three as a player for New England, but he never led theTennessee Titansto a Super Bowl win in his six-year stint as their head coach.Seahawkshead coach Mike Macdonald is in just his second year as the head coach of an NFL team.

Here's a look at the players and coaches with the most Super Bowl rings in NFL history

Super Bowl VII ring: The Miami Dolphins beat Washington, 14-7, on Jan. 14, 1973.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Super Bowl XVII ring: Washington defeated the Miami Dolphins, 27-17, on Jan. 30, 1983.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Super Bowl XVIII ring: The Los Angeles Raiders beat Washington, 38-9, on Jan. 22, 1984.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Super Bowl XXII ring: Washington defeated the Denver Broncos, 42-10, on Jan. 31, 1988.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Super Bowl XXVI ring: Washington beat the Buffalo Bills, 37-24, on Jan. 26, 1992.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Super Bowl XXXII ring: The Denver Broncos beat the Green Bay Packers, 31-24, on Jan. 25, 1998.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Super Bowl XLVII ring: The Baltimore Ravens defeated the San Francisco 49ers, 34-31, on Feb. 3, 2013.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Super Bowl XLVIII ring: The Seattle Seahawks beat the Denver Broncos, 48-3, on Feb. 2, 2014.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Super Bowl XLIX ring: The New England Patriots topped the Seattle Seahawks, 28-24 on Feb. 1, 2015.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Super Bowl 50 ring: The Denver Broncos defeated the Carolina Panthers, 24-10, on Feb. 7, 2016.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Super Bowl LIII ring: The New England Patriots defeated the Los Angeles Rams,13-3, on Feb. 3, 2019.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Super Bowl LIV ring: The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers, 31-20 on Feb. 2, 2020.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Super Bowl LV ring: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs, 31-9, on Feb. 7, 2021.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Super Bowl LVI ring: The Los Angeles Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20, on Feb. 13, 2022.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Super Bowl LVII ring: The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Philadelphia Eagles, 38-35, on Feb. 12, 2023.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Super Bowl LVII ring: The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers, 25-22 in overtime, on Feb. 11, 2024.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Super Bowl LIX ring: The Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Kansas City Chiefs, 40-22, on Feb. 9, 2025.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

Super Bowl rings through the years

Players with the most Super Bowl rings

Tom Brady leads all players, past and present, with his seven Super Bowl rings – six with the Patriots, one with theTampa Bay Buccaneers. He's also one of just nine players to win at least four Super Bowls across stints with multiple teams.

Here's a list of the players with the most rings in Super Bowl history:

• QB Tom Brady: 7 (New England Patriots: Super Bowls 36, 38, 39, 49, 51, 53; Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Super Bowl 55)

• DE Charles Haley: 5 (San Francisco 49ers: Super Bowls 23 and 24; Dallas Cowboys: Super Bowls 27, 28, 30)

• TE Marv Fleming: 4 (Green Bay Packers: Super Bowls 1 and 2; Miami Dolphins: Super Bowls 7 and 8)

• LB Ted Hendricks: 4 (Baltimore Colts: Super Bowl 5; Oakland/L.A. Raiders: Super Bowls 11, 15, 18)

• LB Matt Millen: 4 (Oakland/L.A. Raiders: Super Bowls 15 and 18; San Francisco 49ers: Super Bowl 24; Washington: Super Bowl 26)

• LB Bill Romanowski: 4 (San Francisco 49ers: Super Bowls 23 and 24; Denver Broncos: Super Bowls 32 and 33)

• K Adam Vinatieri: 4 (New England Patriots: Super Bowls 36, 38, 39; Indianapolis Colts: Super Bowl 41)

• TE Rob Gronkowski: 4 (New England Patriots: Super Bowls 49, 51, 53; Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Super Bowl 55)

• OL Joe Thuney: 4 (New England Patriots: Super Bowls 51 and 53; Kansas City Chiefs: Super Bowls 57 and 58)

Thuney is the active leader in Super Bowl wins with his four championships across two teams.

Outside of those nine players, there were 22 players – and 10 Pro Football Hall of Famers – to win four Super Bowls with the Pittsburgh Steelers in their dominant 1970s era. That group includes quarterback Terry Bradshaw, cornerback Mel Blount and defensive tackle "Mean" Joe Greene, among others.

There are also six players who won four titles with the San Francisco 49ers during their run of dominance in the '80s and early '90s, including Hall of Fame defensive back Ronnie Lott and Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana.

PATRIOTS SUPER BOWL HISTORY:When was the last time New England played in the Big Game?

Coaches with the most Super Bowl rings

With Brady leading the players in Super Bowl ring count, it should be no surprise that former Patriots head coach Bill Belichick leads all coaches in Super Bowl rings. All of the coaches with more than two Super Bowl wins have won all of their NFL titles with the same team.

Here's a look at the NFL head coaches with the most Super Bowl rings:

• Bill Belichick: 6 (New England Patriots: Super Bowls 36, 38, 39, 49, 51, 53)

• Chuck Noll: 4 (Pittsburgh Steelers: Super Bowls 9, 10, 13, 14)

• Andy Reid: 3 (Kansas City Chiefs: Super Bowls 54, 57, 58

• Joe Gibbs: 3 (Washington: Super Bowls 17, 22, 26)

• Bill Walsh: 3 (San Francisco 49ers: Super Bowls 16, 19, 23)

There are nine other coaches with multiple Super Bowl rings, including Vince Lombardi and Bill Parcells, but none have won more than two, aside from the five coaches listed.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Super Bowl rings: NFL players, coaches who have the most

byCristiano Ronaldo

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, ShowBiz, Sports

January 31, 2026

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