Gladiator II critics have declared that Denzel Washington ‘stole the entire’ picture as they heaped praise on his electrifying performance. Though Irish actor Paul Mescal, 28, takes the lead in the action-packed blockbuster as the vengeful Roman Empire heir-turned-Gladiator, it’s Denzel’s portrayal as the sly and ambitious Mecrinus that has everyone talking. The Hollywood star, 69, has been lauded for his ‘pure camp’ line delivery, with it being said that Denzel is ‘palpably revelling’ in playing the ‘smug, self-satisfied schemer.’

During his time in office, President Joe Biden boasted that ‘America is back.’ On Saturday, America was relegated to the back row. Biden’s ‘super lame duck’ status was on full display when he was positioned in the back and off to the side in the APEC leaders’ family photo in Lima.

Nancy Pelosi is under fire from her own Democratic lawmakers, who are annoyed with her public complaints about what the party did wrong in the election that resulted in their loss of the White House, Senate and House of Representatives. Several Democratic lawmakers complained anonymously to Axios about the former speaker. ‘She needs to take a seat,’ said one senior Democrat. ‘Making scattershot comments is not just unhelpful, it’s damaging.’

The scale of Donald Trump’s election win was a jaw dropping in surprise to many across America on November 5. But not for Ashley Hayek, the executive director of America First Works (AFW), a pro-Trump non-profit, who accuses the ‘establishment media’ of ‘gaslighting’ voters with talk of a tight race. Hayek says the early vote tallies suggested Republican women were showing up while their Democratic counterparts were not, and that all swing states were winnable.

Donald Trump’s daughter-in-law Lara Trump has said his son Barron deserves ‘serious credit’ for his father’s election win. Lara, 42, who is married to Eric Trump, had been speaking with Patrick Bet-David on his podcast when she made the comments concerning her younger brother-in-law. She told Bet-David: ‘Barron Trump is so cool. He’s like the sleeper. He’s kind of stayed out of the spotlight intentionally.

MSNBC anchor Stephanie Ruhle said she ‘threw up in her mouth’ and asked to cut to a commercial after a discussion about Matt Gaetz nomination for Attorney General on her show went sideways. President-elect Donald Trump has pushed for the controversial Florida Congressman and MAGA loyalist to be the nation’s top law enforcement official in a move that has shocked Washington. His nomination of Gaetz was the topic of discussion on Friday night on MSNBC’S ’11th Hour’, with Ruhle’s panel discussing the move.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is set to attend a fallen officer’s funeral – despite the family saying he’s not welcome there. Johnson, who has been branded the country’s ‘most hated mayor,’ announced on Friday that he would be attending Officer Enrique Martinez’s funeral. ‘Mayor Johnson will attend honors funeral services and celebration of life for Chicago Police Officer Enrique Martinez,’ the statement read. ‘It is the Mayor’s honor to support the officers of the entire Chicago Police Department, especially in moments of grief.’

Family campaigners have criticised as ‘grossly discriminatory’ plans to give trans men and lesbians access to NHS-funded IVF two years ahead of heterosexual couples. Under the controversial proposals, trans men – those born as women who now identify as men – will be automatically assumed to be unable to conceive, as will lesbians and single women. This means they will be immediately eligible for IVF on the NHS – costing an estimated £5,000 a cycle – if they meet the other criteria, such as a body mass index between 19 and 30, not smoking, being under 43 and not having a partner with a child from a previous relationship.

Big companies, obsessed with squeezing out every ounce of efficiency, are deploying ‘perk police’ to catch minor infractions that could lead to termination. Huge corporations like Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta have recently terminated employees for spending their $25 meal allowances on other items. Target has fired employees who appeared to jump the line, ahead of the general public, to buy the on-trend Stanley water bottles.