Connect with us

Published

on

In his garden there was, what else, but a ‘gaming chair’.

The seat sits outside and unoccupied on the North Dighton property of Jack Teixeira – a nod, perhaps, to the secrets scandal that he perpetrated through a gaming platform online.

It is upholstered aggressively in red and black, a growling accessory in a gaming world that unmutes the unheard.

Does the chair belong to him? Maybe.

And maybe its sports car-style carried an appeal to the airman, who called himself “OG” online – original gangster.

Jack Teixeira liked an audience, that much seems clear. He was prepared to risk everything – his liberty, at least – to get it.

“He was a quiet kid. He had more online friends than real friends,” Ben Rapoza told Sky News.

What we know about the leaks

The FBI used billing records from an internet social media app to unmask US airman Jack Teixeira as a suspect over the leak of top-secret military documents, court documents showed.

The leak is believed to have started on Discord chat platform, frequently used by people who play online games.

Discord said it was cooperating with the bureau, according to an FBI affidavit unsealed on Friday.

He was arrested on Thursday by heavily armed tactical agents after a week-long investigation into the disclosure of the highly sensitive government records.

The 21-year-old appeared before a federal magistrate judge at a court in Boston on Friday, charged with possessing unclassified documents pertaining to national security and possessing national defence materials.

Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, in a statement issued after the arrest, said the Pentagon would conduct a review of its “intelligence access, accountability and control procedures” to prevent such a leak from happening again.

President Joe Biden said he has “instructed the Department [of Defence] to make sure that they get to the root of why” the suspect had access to the documents and “to focus extensively on the extent to which it all occurred”.

Ben, 18, attended the same high school as Teixeira but didn’t know him well. In North Dighton, it’s a challenge to find anyone who was familiar with its infamous son.

Until now.

Everyone in this rural Massachusetts town now knows ‘Jack Teixeira – the story.’

Jack Teixeira
Image:
Jack Teixeira

“It definitely puts Dighton on the map,” said Ben. “Something like this is a little crazy for Dighton, it’s usually quiet, not much usually goes on, it was definitely a shock when I found out about it.

“The fact that he got his hands on that (Pentagon documents) is a little crazy to me, too.”

Read more:
A who’s who of US intelligence leakers
You don’t need powerful algorithms to go viral

The full, crazy story of the airman who blew a hole in US national security will be told, in time.

For now, it seems to shape as a modern digital cliche – a recluse swaggering through cyberspace, high on attention and blind to the black hole ahead.

In small town America, it’s an everyday story of the internet – this one has consequences everywhere.

Continue Reading

US

Diane Keaton, star of Annie Hall and The Godfather, has died

Published

on

By

Diane Keaton, star of Annie Hall and The Godfather, has died

Actress Diane Keaton, who starred in films including The Godfather and Annie Hall, has died aged 79.

Keaton’s daughter, Dexter Keaton White, confirmed her death in California to Sky’s US partner network NBC News.

With a long career, across a series of movies that are regarded as some of the best ever made, Keaton was widely admired.

She was awarded an Oscar, a BAFTA and two Golden Globe Awards, and was also nominated for two Emmys, and a Tony, as well as picking up a series of other Academy Award and BAFTA nominations.

Diane Keaton, with her best actress Oscar for Annie Hall in 1978. Pic: AP
Image:
Diane Keaton, with her best actress Oscar for Annie Hall in 1978. Pic: AP

Her best actress Oscar was for the Woody Allen film Annie Hall, which is said to be loosely based on her life.

She appeared in several other Allen projects, including Manhattan, as well as all three Godfather movies, in which she played Kay, the wife and then ex-wife of Marlon Brando’s son Michael Corleone, played by Al Pacino, opposite him as he descends into a life of crime and replaces his father in the family’s mafia empire.

With Woody Allen in 1978. Pic: Adam Scull/PHOTOlink.net/AP
Image:
With Woody Allen in 1978. Pic: Adam Scull/PHOTOlink.net/AP

Keaton was the kind of actor who helped make films iconic and timeless, from her heartbreaking turn as Kay Adams-Corleone to the “La-dee-da, la-dee-da” phrasing as Annie Hall, bedecked in the now famous necktie, bowler hat, vest and khakis.

Keaton also frequently worked with Nancy Meyers, starting with 1987’s Baby Boom.

Their other films together included 1991’s Father Of The Bride and its 1995 sequel, as well as 2003’s Something’s Gotta Give.

Keaton (centre) with Goldie Hawn (L) and Bette Midler at the premiere of  The First Wives Club in 1996. Pic: AP
Image:
Keaton (centre) with Goldie Hawn (L) and Bette Midler at the premiere of The First Wives Club in 1996. Pic: AP

In 1996, she starred opposite Goldie Hawn and Bette Midler in The First Wives Club, about three women whose husbands had left them for younger women.

More recently, she collaborated with Jane Fonda, Mary Steenburgen and Candice Bergen on the Book Club films.

‘Brilliant, beautiful’

The unexpected news of Keaton’s death was met with shock around the world.

Diane Keaton shows her hands after placing them on fresh cement during a ceremony TCL Chinese Theatre in 2022. Pic: Reuters
Image:
Diane Keaton shows her hands after placing them on fresh cement during a ceremony TCL Chinese Theatre in 2022. Pic: Reuters

Her First Wives Club co-star Midler wrote on Instagram: “The brilliant, beautiful, extraordinary Diane Keaton has died. I cannot tell you how unbearably sad this makes me.

“She was hilarious, a complete original, and completely without guile, or any of the competitiveness one would have expected from such a star. What you saw was who she was … oh, la, lala!”

Fellow co-star Goldie Hawn said Keaton had left “a trail of fairy dust, filled with particles of light and memories beyond imagination”.

“How do we say goodbye? What words can come to mind when your heart is broken? You never liked praise, so humble, but now you can’t tell me to ‘shut up’ honey. There was, and will be, no one like you,” Hawn added in a post on Instagram.

“You stole the hearts of the world and shared your genius with millions, making films that made us laugh and cry in ways only you could.”

Actor Ben Stiller paid tribute on X, writing: “Diane Keaton. One of the greatest film actors ever. An icon of style, humor and comedy. Brilliant. What a person.”

Kate Hudson, Goldie Hawn’s daughter, posted simply: “We love you so much Diane.”

Last year at New York Fashion Week. Pic: AP
Image:
Last year at New York Fashion Week. Pic: AP

In her Instagram tribute, Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony award-winning actress and producer Viola Davis said: “No!! No!!! No!! God, not yet, NO!!! Man… you defined womanhood.

“The pathos, humor, levity, your ever-present youthfulness and vulnerability – you tattooed your SOUL into every role, making it impossible to imagine anyone else inhabiting them.

“You were undeniably, unapologetically YOU!!! Loved you. Man… rest well. God bless your family, and I know angels are flying you home.”

Diane Keaton and her children, Duke (left) and Dexter Keaton, at the premiere of 'Book Club' in 2018. Pic: AP
Image:
Diane Keaton and her children, Duke (left) and Dexter Keaton, at the premiere of ‘Book Club’ in 2018. Pic: AP

Keaton never married.

She adopted her daughter Dexter at the age of 50 in 1996 and a son, Duke, four years later.

Continue Reading

US

‘No survivors’ in munitions factory explosion after 18 reported missing, police say

Published

on

By

'No survivors' in munitions factory explosion after 18 reported missing, police say

There are no survivors from a factory explosion that ripped through a munitions plant in rural Tennessee, police have confirmed.

Eighteen people were missing after the huge blast, but Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis has now confirmed all died.

It happened on Friday morning at Accurate Energetic Systems, a company which supplies and researches explosives for the military.

Officers guard the gate at Accurate Energetic Systems military explosives plant. Pic: Reuters
Image:
Officers guard the gate at Accurate Energetic Systems military explosives plant. Pic: Reuters

It scattered debris over at least half a mile (800m) and was felt by residents more than 15 miles (24km) away, Mr Davis said.

Aerial footage showed the company’s hilltop location smouldering and obliterated by smoke for much of Friday, with just a mass of twisted metal, burned-out shells of cars, and an array of debris left behind.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Emergency services have been unable to fully attend the site due to secondary blasts.

Mr Davis described it as one of the worst scenes he had ever seen.

“What we need right now is we need our communities to come together and understand that we’ve lost a lot of people,” he said.

More on Tennessee

The cause of the blast, which occurred about 60 miles southwest of Nashville, is not yet known but Mr Davis said it could be days, weeks or even months before foul play is ruled out.

Guy McCormick, a supervisory special agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said experts need to make the area safe before specialist investigators begin combing through the remains.

He said the safety and security of the scene could change quickly because of the heat and pressure caused by the explosion.

Signs near the site on Saturday asked for prayers for the families.

Follow the World
Follow the World

Listen to The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim every Wednesday

Tap to follow

Terry Bagsby, 68, who works at a petrol station nearby, said people in the close-knit community were “very, very sad”.

“I don’t know how to explain it… Just a lot of grief,” he added.

Continue Reading

US

Diane Keaton, star of Annie Hall and The Godfather, has died

Published

on

By

Diane Keaton, star of Annie Hall and The Godfather, has died

Actress Diane Keaton, who starred in films including The Godfather and Annie Hall, has died aged 79.

Keaton’s daughter, Dexter Keaton White, confirmed her death to Sky’s US partner network NBC News.

With a long career, across a series of movies that are regarded as some of the best ever made, Keaton was widely admired.

She was awarded an Oscar, a BAFTA and two Golden Globe Awards, and was also nominated for two Emmys, and a Tony, as well as picking up a series of other Academy Award and BAFTA nominations.

Diane Keaton, with her best actress Oscar for Annie Hall in 1978. Pic: AP
Image:
Diane Keaton, with her best actress Oscar for Annie Hall in 1978. Pic: AP

Her best actress Oscar was for the Woody Allen film Annie Hall which is said to be loosely based on her life.

She appeared in several other Allen projects, including Manhattan, as well as all three Godfather movies, in which she played Kay, the wife and then ex-wife of Marlon Brando’s son Michael Corleone, played by Al Pacino, opposite him as he descends into a life of crime and replaces his father in the family’s mafia empire.

With Woody Allen in 1978. Pic: Adam Scull/PHOTOlink.net/AP
Image:
With Woody Allen in 1978. Pic: Adam Scull/PHOTOlink.net/AP

Keaton was the kind of actor who helped make films iconic and timeless, from her heartbreaking turn as Kay Adams-Corleone to the “La-dee-da, la-dee-da” phrasing as Annie Hall, bedecked in the now famous necktie, bowler hat, vest and khakis.

More from Ents & Arts

Keaton also frequently worked with Nancy Meyers, starting with 1987’s Baby Boom.

Their other films together included 1991’s Father Of The Bride and its 1995 sequel, as well as 2003’s Something’s Gotta Give.

In 1996, she starred opposite Goldie Hawn and Bette Midler in The First Wives Club, about three women whose husbands had left them for younger women.

Keaton (centre) with Goldie Hawn (L) and Bette Midler at the premiere of  The First Wives Club in 1996. Pic: AP
Image:
Keaton (centre) with Goldie Hawn (L) and Bette Midler at the premiere of The First Wives Club in 1996. Pic: AP

More recently, she collaborated with Jane Fonda, Mary Steenburgen and Candice Bergen on the Book Club films.

‘Brilliant, beautiful’

Diane Keaton. Pic: AP
Image:
Diane Keaton. Pic: AP

The unexpected news was met with shock around the world.

Her First Wives Club co-star Midler wrote on Instagram: “The brilliant, beautiful, extraordinary Diane Keaton has died. I cannot tell you how unbearably sad this makes me.

“She was hilarious, a complete original, and completely without guile, or any of the competitiveness one would have expected from such a star. What you saw was who she was … oh, la, lala!”

Actor Ben Stiller paid tribute on X, writing: “Diane Keaton. One of the greatest film actors ever. An icon of style, humor and comedy. Brilliant. What a person.”

Kate Hudson, whose mother is Goldie Hawn, posted simply: “We love you so much Diane.”

In her Instagram tribute, Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony award-winning actress and producer Viola Davis said: “No!! No!!! No!! God, not yet, NO!!! Man… you defined womanhood.

“The pathos, humor, levity, your ever-present youthfulness and vulnerability – you tattooed your SOUL into every role, making it impossible to imagine anyone else inhabiting them.

“You were undeniably, unapologetically YOU!!! Loved you. Man… rest well. God bless your family, and I know angels are flying you home.”

Keaton never married. She adopted her daughter Dexter in 1996 and a son, Duke, four years later.

Continue Reading

Trending