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New Twist In Alan Ritchson Case As Police Make Decision On Charges For 'Reacher' Star

Alan Ritchson's explosive neighborhood brawl has reached its climax.

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Officials closed the investigation after determining whether charges would be filed against the actor or hisneighborRonnie Taylor.

The update came amid Taylor's statements about the action star repeatedly attacking him.

Alan Ritchson's explosive neighborhood brawl has reached its climax

Image credits:alanritchson

The tense exchange between Alan Ritchson and hisneighbor Ronnie Taylorescalated within seconds in their quiet, upscale Brentwood, Tennessee, neighborhood.

Footage captured the brawl that unfolded in front of two of the actor's three sons, shared with his wife, Catherine.

Image credits:Ronnie Taylor

Investigators determined that Taylor instigated physical contact, while Ritchson acted in self-defense, according to Brentwood Police Captain Steven Pepin's latest update.

No charges would be filed against Ritchson, officials concluded.

On the other hand, there was also a possibility of Ritchsonfiling charges against the neighbor, but he did not pursue them.

There was a possibility of charges being filed against Taylor, but Ritchson did not pursue them

Image credits:alanritchson

"After reviewing available evidence, includingvideo footage and witness statements, authorities determined that no criminal charges will be pursued. Mr. Ritchson's actions were found to be in self-defense," Pepinsaidin a statement.

Pepin noted that a "potential reckless endangerment charge was considered" against Taylor.

But Ritchson "declined to pursue charges," he said.

Image credits:TMZ

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With both theReacherstar and theneighbor being in the clear, the "case is now closed, and no further action will be taken," Pepin added.

Footage shared online captured the physical tussle on Sunday, March 22.

The "case is now closed, and no further action will be taken," an official said

Image credits:Adrves1994

Taylor was seen kneeling on the ground as theHunger Games: Catching Firestar was seen repeatedly striking him.

The full picture emerged after additional clips, taken from Ritchson's ownbody camera strapped to his chest, showed Taylor confronting the actor on the street and initiating the attack.

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The day before the physical altercation, Taylor had witnessed Ritchson allegedly speeding through the neighborhood on a motorcycle.

"Then, on Sunday, when I was cleaning my bike outside my house, he rode past once, twice, and on the second time, I walked out in front of him, and I said, 'You got to stop. Someone's going to get hurt,'" Taylor toldTMZ.

A body camera strapped to Ritchson's chest provided the full picture of the neighborhood tussle

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Ritchson was on his Kawasaki and fell off his vehicle when Taylor jumped onto the middle of the road and blocked him. His sons were riding their own bikes at the time.

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The actor got back onto his bike and asked the neighbor to "f***ing move" out of his way as he revved the engine multiple times. But Taylor stayed put.

Taylor pushed the bike and the actor twice, leading Ritchson to shove him to the ground and strike him multiple times.

Image credits:primevideo

Admitting the tussle "escalated" quickly, Taylor toldTMZ,"I did push him because he was coming towards me on his bike. He did it again for a second time. I pushed him a second time, and I think the second time he got off his bike and kicked the cr*p outta me."

The neighbor shared pictures of bruises on his forehead and claimed to cops that the actor hit him "at least four times."

Taylor claimed he was merely trying to take a stand when he confronted the action star

Taylor claimed he had "such a sh*ty day" after the brawl and claimed he was merely trying to take a stand.

"I don't wish the guy any malice or ill will, but we just don't need people riding through neighborhoods like this," he continued. "And I just decided I'm going to take a stand, because someone has to."

After videos of Ritchson and Taylor went viral online, the actorshared a cryptic postwith a quote attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte.

"Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake," the quote said.

Image credits:alanritchson

Taylor previously spoke about struggling with his mental health and attempted to take his own life in 2019.

"I was diagnosed as bipolar right after," he previously toldThe Hollywood Reporter."Deep down, I was comforted to know, 'OK, there's a name for this.'"

The actor said he then began "MDMA therapy" and said it "rewired [his] brain in the best way."

If you or someone you know is struggling with self-harm or s**c*dal ideation, help is available:International Hotlines

"I'm so happy he was wearing a camera or this story would be blaming a crazy star," one netizen claimed

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New Twist In Alan Ritchson Case As Police Make Decision On Charges For ‘Reacher’ Star

Alan Ritchson's explosive neighborhood brawl has reached its climax. Officials closed the investigation a...
Son Finds Late Father's Booklet with Lucky Lottery Numbers, Then Wins $1.3M in 'Unbelievable' Twist

A man in England won roughly $1.3 million after using the lottery numbers favored by his late dad

People Sean HayesCredit: National Lottery

NEED TO KNOW

  • Sean Hayes had been using father James' lottery numbers from a booklet that James kept before his death in 2010

  • Hayes said he played his dad's numbers as a way to feel close to him

A man in England got more than $1 million from the lottery thanks to a set of lucky numbers left for him — in a unusual twist — by his deceased dad, officials said this week.

Sean Hayes, of Oxfordshire, won £1,000,000, or roughly $1,338,460, according to a news release by theNational Lottery.

Hayes, 56, had been using father James' lottery numbers from a booklet that James kept before his death in 2010, Hayes told lottery officials.

He had played the numbers in the past, in James' honor, but lost the book for a while only to later rediscover it.

"To think that my dad chose these numbers all those years ago before he died is just unbelievable and it's a really nice connection to my dad's memory," said Hayes, an avid gardener.

As for what he's going to do with the newfound fortune, Hayes plans to buy a house with his wife, Sara, and hopes to include a garden somewhere on the property.

"It would be ideal to have some green space at home," he said.

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A new car and some long-awaited traveling with his wife are also on his to-do list.

Hayes initially had some trouble nailing down his winnings: He called lottery officials to confirm his prize but wasn't able to be heard due to poor phone reception, he said.

Eventually, he managed to get a signal — describing the moment as "unbelievable." (He said he had a "few extra drinks" that night to celebrate.)

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

"I'm so grateful to my dad to have chosen these numbers," Hayes said. "The money is going to make a real difference to our lives."

If you or someone you know is struggling with a gambling problem, please contact the National Problem Gambling Helpline Network at 1-800-522-4700 or go togamtalk.org.

Read the original article onPeople

Son Finds Late Father's Booklet with Lucky Lottery Numbers, Then Wins $1.3M in 'Unbelievable' Twist

A man in England won roughly $1.3 million after using the lottery numbers favored by his late dad NEED TO KNO...

Henry Thomaswasn't quite ready for the whirlwind of stardom that followed the release ofE.T. the Extra-Terrestrialin 1982.

Entertainment Weekly Henry Thomas in 'E.T.' (1982)Credit: Bruce McBroom/Universal

"I wasn't ready for the fame. I had never even thought about being famous," Thomas said Tuesday onThe Hollywood Reporter'sIt Happened in Hollywoodpodcast.

E.T.changed a lot in a hurry. Within two weeks of the sci-fi blockbuster's release, Thomas said, his phone started ringing. Before that, agencies wouldn't call him back.

Henry Thomas in Burbank, Calif., in 2024Credit: Victoria Sirakova/Getty

So how did he handle the shift?

"Not very well," Thomas said. "I wasn't ready for it and never saw it coming. The first time someone recognized me, it felt bizarre. And then there was this pressure to follow it up. I stayed in Texas for a long time, which in hindsight probably helped."

Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with ourEW Dispatch newsletter.

The iconic film, directed bySteven Spielberg, depicted a 10-year-old Thomas as Elliott, who becomes friends with an alien who finds himself stranded on Earth but wants to return to his home planet.

The Oscar-winning film featured a cast that also included a youngDrew Barrymore, who later famously overcameher own personal struggles, playing Elliott's little sister Gertie. Robert MacNaughton was cast as his older brother Mike, while Dee Wallace took the role of their mom, Mary.

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'E.T.' stars Henry Thomas, Drew Barrymore, and Robert MacNaughtonCredit: Universal Pictures/ Everett

Thomas, who's now 52, was asked about how he's maintained a steady career in the decade after stardom.

Over the years, he's appeared in movies such asLegends of the Fall(1994),Gangs of New York(2002), andDoctor Sleep(2019). On TV, he's been on 2018'sThe Haunting of Hill House,Better Things(2017), andThe Haunting of Bly Manor(2020).

Thomas said he doesn't really have a strategy.

"I just kept going. There were periods where things were great and periods where it felt like you couldn't get arrested," Thomas said. "You realize eventually it's all cyclical. You don't get a rule book. You just keep showing up."

Still, he and the otherE.T.actors have been known to reunite.

Thomas, MacNaughton, and Wallacestopped by Barrymore's talk showin 2022 to mark the film's 40th anniversary.

Listen to Thomas' full conversation on the podcast above.

Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly

“E.T.”'s Henry Thomas recalls he did not handle being a child star well

Henry Thomaswasn't quite ready for the whirlwind of stardom that followed the release ofE.T. the Extra-Terrestrialin...
Hong Kong police arrest bookstore owner, staff for selling Jimmy Lai biography, TVB says

By Jessie Pang and Greg Torode

Reuters The exterior of the bookstore Book Punch, whose owner and three shopkeepers Hong Kong police arrested for allegedly selling The exterior of the bookstore Book Punch, whose owner and three shopkeepers Hong Kong police arrested for allegedly selling A notice reads,

Hong Kong police arrest bookstore owner and staff for selling Jimmy Lai biography, broadcaster reports

HONG KONG, March 24 (Reuters) - Hong Kong police arrested a bookstore owner and three shopkeepers on Tuesday for allegedly selling "seditious" publications including a biography of jailed media tycoon Jimmy Lai, broadcaster TVB reported.

The owner of the Book Punch store Pong Yat-ming and ‌three staff were accused of selling copies of "The Troublemaker", a biography of Lai by one of his former business directors, Mark Clifford, TVB reported.

Lai, ‌founder of the now-shuttered pro-democracy Apple Daily newspaper, was sentenced to a 20-year jail term in February for collusion with foreign forces and sedition in the city's biggest national security case.

A police spokesperson, asked ​about the reported arrests, did not comment directly but said in a statement that police "will take actions according to actual circumstances and in accordance with the law".

Hong Kong's Secretary for Security Chris Tang did not respond to reporters' questions. Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law said it was inappropriate for her to comment as someone has already been arrested.

Asked whether the arrests could impact public reading habits, Law said "reading will continue to be promoted in Hong Kong".

A notice outside the door of the bookstore read: "Resting for a ‌day due to emergency, sorry for the inconvenience."

Reuters could not ⁠immediately reach Pong for comment and could not determine whether Pong or any of the staff had been charged with any offence.

Clifford, now based in New York, was a former director of media group Next Digital owned by Lai. In response to questions ⁠from Reuters, Clifford said he was not aware of the arrests, but "if true, it's a sad and ironic commentary that selling a book on a man who is in jail for his activities as a journalist, for promoting free expression, would be subject to sedition".

Under a local national security law, known as Article 23, sedition is punishable up to seven years in ​jail ​and a maximum of 10 years if the act involves collusion with an "external force".

Beijing imposed broader ​and more sweeping national security legislation on the city in ‌2020.

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Facing criticism by some Western governments and international rights groups, Hong Kong and Chinese officials said new laws were needed to bring stability after months of pro-democracy protests rocked the city in 2019.

Two other independent stores announced temporary closures on Wednesday as word spread of the arrests among readers and supporters who said the booksellers have become vital outlets for civil society by hosting book talks and workshops.

A loose network of stores seeks to offer a broader range of political and social titles than those found in mainstream stores, some of which are controlled by Chinese state-owned Sino United Publishing.

In January, Pong pleaded not guilty to three charges of operating an unregistered school ‌after he held a Spanish class at the bookstore last year. The case is ongoing.

On Instagram ​last year, Book Punch said it had cancelled several activities due to anonymous complaints.

Another independent shop, Hunter ​Bookstore, said earlier that it faced regular visits and checks by various ​government departments as well as tax probes.

Mount Zero, an independent bookstore in Sheung Wan on Hong Kong Island, closed in 2024, citing ‌visits by authorities after a string of anonymous complaints on its ​social media.

In a further crackdown on dissent, ​the city's government on Monday gazetted new amendments to the implementation rules to the Beijing-imposed law, which would allow customs officers to seize items that are deemed to have "seditious intention".

The moves also mean police with warrants from a magistrate can now demand that people suspected of breaching the national security law ​provide phone or computer passwords or face jail and a ‌fine.

Hunter Bookstore on Instagram said it would remain open but it urged the government to maintain an updated public list of publications that are ​deemed to be seditious.

"Books and publishing are not just independent businesses, it is the cultural foundation of the entire society," it said.

(Reporting by ​Jessie Pang and Greg Torode; Editing by Peter Graff, Thomas Derpinghaus and Michael Perry)

Hong Kong police arrest bookstore owner, staff for selling Jimmy Lai biography, TVB says

By Jessie Pang and Greg Torode Hong Kong police arrest bookstore owner and staff for selling Jimmy Lai biog...
Asia looks to COVID-era playbook to tackle fuel crisis

March 25 (Reuters) - Countries across Asia are weighing up work-from-home policies and stimulus measures enforced during the COVID pandemic, as they scramble to respond to global fuel shortages triggered by the Iran war.

Reuters FILE PHOTO: An oil products tanker passes the Sydney Opera House at sunrise in Sydney, Australia, March 21, 2026. REUTERS/Hollie Adams/File Photo FILE PHOTO: 'Out of order' signs are displayed on empty fuel pumps at an Ampol petrol station after it ran out of fuel in Sydney, Australia, March 20, 2026. REUTERS/Hollie Adams/File Photo FILE PHOTO: Storage tanks and oil refineries in Jurong Island, Singapore, March 24, 2026. REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo

FILE PHOTO: An oil products tanker passes the Sydney Opera House at sunrise in Sydney

Asia is at the frontline of the fuel crisis, buying more than 80% of the crude that transits the Strait of Hormuz, ‌which has been almost totally blocked by Iran since the war broke out on February 28.

No country in the region has enforced work-from-home measures yet, but some have said ‌they are on the table.

"I think it is a good idea," South Korean Energy Minister Kim Sung-whan said on Tuesday when asked about an International Energy Agency recommendation for people to work from home.

The IEA, which agreed a record release ​of around 400 million barrels of oil from strategic stockpiles to deal with the crisis, has outlined proposals to ease oil price pressures such as working from home and avoiding air travel.

IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol repeated those calls at a conference in Sydney this week.

"There were real-life tests, such as after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, European countries adopted these measures, and it was announced by the European governments. It helped them a lot to go through these difficult times without Russian energy ... but keeping the lights on," Birol said.

Industrial powerhouse South Korea on Tuesday launched a public campaign asking people to cut ‌shower time, charge phones during the day and run vacuums on weekends.

"We ⁠will consult with relevant ministries and actively consider measures for work-from-home," Energy Minister Kim told a briefing.

The Philippines, which relies heavily on Middle Eastern oil for its energy needs, shortened the work week in some government offices earlier this month. President Ferdinand Marcos declared a state of national energy emergency ⁠saying the conflict poses an "imminent danger" to the country's energy supply.

Pakistan closed schools for two weeks and said office workers would work more from home. The island nation of Sri Lanka declared a public holiday every Wednesday to help make its fuel supplies go further.

Singapore, an Asian financial hub, urged people and businesses to switch to energy-efficient appliances, use electric vehicles and set the temperature higher on their air conditioners.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin ​Charnvirakul ​ordered bureaucrats to suspend overseas trips, set air conditioning temperatures above 25 degrees Celsius (77 degrees Fahrenheit), avoid suits ​and ties, use stairs instead of elevators, and work from home.

COST-OF-LIVING RELIEF

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Some countries ‌have turned to stimulus measures as rising fuel costs bite into household budgets.

The Japanese government said on Tuesday it plans to tap 800 billion yen ($5 billion) in reserve funds to finance subsidies aimed at keeping gasoline prices at about 170 yen per litre on average. The measure would cost as much as 300 billion yen per month.

New Zealand said on Tuesday that it would provide temporary financial support of NZ$50 ($29.30) every week from April for low-income families.

"We know these families will be hit particularly hard by the global fuel-price shock. We are delivering them timely relief," New Zealand Finance Minister Nicola Willis said.

In neighbouring Australia hundreds of petrol stations are running dry from panic buying and shortages, which are acutely hitting the remote regional areas of the vast continent.

The centre-left government introduced ‌legislation in the parliament to double penalties for fuel price gouging.

Several Asian countries have also released petrol and diesel ​from domestic reserves and temporarily loosened gasoline and diesel quality standards to increase supply.

POLICY DILEMMA

The glaring contrast with the ​pandemic, however, is that central banks are not rushing to cut interest rates. In fact, ​they are considering hikes.

During the pandemic, demand collapsed as many economies were essentially shuttered for health reasons, so policymakers responded with massive stimulus.

Now, the Reserve ‌Bank of Australia has already hiked rates twice this year. It cited energy ​risks as a material risk to inflation and ​a reason for raising rates to a 10-month high last week.

Investors expect Japan, Britain and Europe will all raise rates in coming months, and pressure on Asian economies may be even more acute as their currencies slip against the dollar.

"Central banks face a classic policy dilemma when oil prices surge – inflation rises but growth might weaken," Jennifer McKeown, chief global ​economist at Capital Economics, said in a note last week.

"The right response ‌depends crucially on why oil prices are rising, how persistent the shock is, and whether inflation expectations are at risk," she added.

(Reporting by Alasdair Pal and Wayne ​Cole in Sydney, Jack Kim in Seoul, Xinghui Kok and Tom Westbrook in Singapore, Lucy Craymer in Wellington, Makiko Yamazaki in Tokyo, Karen Lema in Philippines, Chayut Setboonsarng ​in Bangkok and Tanvi Mehta in New Delhi; writing by Praveen Menon; Editing by Stephen Coates)

Asia looks to COVID-era playbook to tackle fuel crisis

March 25 (Reuters) - Countries across Asia are weighing up work-from-home policies and stimulus measures enforced during...

 

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