Katie Thurston Tearfully Admits She Is Struggling to Stay ‘Positive’

An emotional Katie Thurston opened up about her mental state as she fights cancer.

Taking to her Instagram Stories on Tuesday, September 30, the former Bachelorette, 34, cried as she spoke to fans about how she is coping after being diagnosed with breast cancer in February.

“Tomorrow is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and I’m, like, totally crashing out if I’m being so for real,” Thurston said in the social media video. ““I don’t know what I’m even saying, guys. I just want to be so honest. I know I seem positive sometimes but it’s very hard to be positive.”

Thurston, who first rose to fame after competing for Matt James’ affection on The Bachelor in 2021, explained that her breast cancer journey has proven unpredictable.

‘Bachelorette’ Star Katie Thurston Gives Update on Breast Cancer Diagnosis

“I was very much looking forward to, like, the end of the year, kind of being my final push and then it’s smooth sailing,” she said in the clip. “You know, like, treatment’s working, things are good. Instead, it’s like I’m hurting my liver, I’m lowering my dose of medication, I’ve postponed my surgery, which I haven’t even talked about yet.” (Thurston said in a September 19 Instagram post that she had scheduled a double mastectomy “in November.”)

While Thurston did not expand on her surgery plans, she did confirm that she will undergo her “next scans” in two weeks, which will coincide with some much-needed family time.

“My mom and my niece are coming into town for that, so that’ll be good because Jeff [Arcuri] is gone, [adding] a whole other layer,” Thurston said, referring to her comedian husband who is currently touring throughout Australia.

Katie Thurston Has ‘Moments’ She Feels Like She’s Dying Amid Cancer Battle

The reality star, who served as the season 17 Bachelorette in 2021, has been extremely candid via social media during the past week, sharing a tearful post on Friday, September 26, that discussed online speculation over her mortality. The speculation was sparked after a fake obituary for Thurston that circulated online.

“I literally wanted to take time away from social media, but then I was getting, like, texts from people I don’t normally hear from,” Thurston said via Friday’s Instagram Story. “Then, I got DMs from people, and everyone’s like, ‘Are you OK?’”

She continued, “I’ve seen this article go around before, but something about tonight really f***ing pisses me off. It’s, like, triggering, and I try to report it. There’s just nothing I can do, and I just feel helpless. I’m just so mad right now. Like, if anyone works at Facebook [or] has any suggestion on what I can do, please tell me.”

Why Katie Thurston Feels ‘Less Scared’ About Breast Cancer Diagnosis

In February, Thurston revealed she had been diagnosed with breast cancer after finding a small lump. “I discovered it myself. Thought maybe it was my period [or] maybe it was muscle soreness from working out,” she said via a social media post. “But, eventually, this lump never went away.”

One month later, Thurston and Arcuri, 37, tied the knot, as exclusively confirmed by Us Weekly just following the March 22 nuptials. In the days that followed, Thurston’s cancer was revealed to have spread to her liver and she was given a stage 4 diagnosis.

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Kate Gosselin Reveals ‘Life Altering’ Injury From Hospital Bed

Kate Gosselin shed light on the injury that led to her hospitalization.

In a TikTok video filmed by the reality star, 50, and shared by a friend on Tuesday, September 30, from Gosselin’s hospital bed, it was revealed that one of her dogs caused the injury.

“Meika, my puppy, ran into me full-speed ahead and I ended up with a tibial plateau fracture and surgery with plates and pins in my leg,” she told fans, referring to an injury of the knee that is “one of the most critical load-bearing areas in the human body,” according to Physio-pedia.com.

Gosselin’s explanation came after she shared a mysterious photo of her arm with an IV attached to it via TikTok earlier that day. Her original post did not disclose the reason behind her hospitalization, but it did include the caption, “Please pray for me tonight and tomorrow. I will be fine, but I’m scared and would appreciate your prayers! Thanks, guys.”

Who Is Kate Gosselin’s Former Bodyguard Steve Neild? What We Know So Far

The original post, filmed in a darkened room, also showed the Jon & Kate Plus 8 star, who has two dogs, Nanuq and Meika, wearing a pulse oximeter on her fingers.

In her latest health update, Gosselin detailed how an “ice machine,” referring to a cold therapy system or cryotherapy that can “help reduce swelling and inflammation immediately after” surgery, per OrthoBracing.com, is offering pain relief. She also noted that a doctor had described her injury as “life altering.”

“I have an ice machine, and, let me tell you, I love it,” Gosselin told fans in the clip. “I’d say my insurance bought it but, let’s be honest, I probably bought it. They’re sending me home with the ice thing.”

Gosselin’s recovery comes after she underwent surgery on Tuesday as a result of the incident. Keeping fans across the day’s progress, she shared via another TikTok post that the surgery served as a “top 3 most painful surgery” experience and resulted in the administration of “five pain meds.”

Jon Gosselin Claims Kate Gosselin’s Ex Bodyguard ‘Ruined’ Their Marriage

In her most recent update, Gosselin said that despite the “ice machine,” she remains in significant pain. “My leg is really hurting, I’m going to need to say something,” she told fans. “It’s, like, unable to be ignored.”

During the video, a fan asked whether Gosselin’s “boyfriend” was at her bedside, however Gosselin did not respond to the question.

Gosselin’s week has been far from uneventful, with her rumored man, Steve Neild, making an appearance during her TikTok livestream. Just one day prior to her request for prayers, Neild was seen delivering a coffee to the reality star during the recording. “Hello to the boyfriend,” she said, shielding him from the lens.

His appearance came after Gosselin revealed via TikTok on Tuesday, September 23, that she was in a relationship. “Finally, yes… I [have been] dating somebody for the past year to a little over a year, maybe like 14, 15 months,” she shared at the time. “I am super, super happy. It’s somebody that I’ve known for a really long time and I am very, very happy.”

While she did not reveal her boyfriend’s identity, PageSix reported that the man was Neild, who was once Gosselin’s bodyguard. The outlet’s reporting came after rumors of a romance between the two swirled for several years.

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Government Shutdown Begins, Impact Of Shutdown, Trump Hegseth Military Meeting

The federal government has shut down for the first time since 2019, with President Trump threatening mass layoffs and facing criticism for using government resources to blame Democrats. More than two million federal workers are bracing for uncertainty as the shutdown drags on, with some agencies warning employees they may not be brought back once it ends. And President Trump told top military commanders he wants to use troops against “enemies within” and plans to deploy National Guard forces to Democratic-led cities.

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Kirsten Dunst Reveals Which of Jesse Plemons’ Movies Their Kids Won’t Watch

Kirsten Dunst and husband Jesse Plemons may be household names courtesy of their extensive Hollywood careers, but that doesn’t mean their own children are huge fans of their varied movie roles.

“I mean, they’ve seen Jumanji and Spider-Man,” Dunst, 43, exclusively told Us Weekly while attending the Roofman premiere in Los Angeles on Monday, September 29. “Every time I’m like, ‘Do you want to watch Like Mike?’ they’re like, ‘No.’ So… Small Soldiers, my kids like, too.” (Plemons starred in 2002’s Like Mike, a kids comedy about a boy who dreams of becoming a famous basketball player.)

She then clarified, “One of my kids likes [it].”

The Civil War star shares Ennis Howard, born in May 2018, and James Robert, born in May 2021, with fellow actor Plemons. The pair got engaged in 2017 and expanded their family before eventually tying the knot in Jamaica in 2022.

Kirsten Dunst Doesn’t Allow Her Kids to Have Electronics at Home

Dunst and Plemons recently starred alongside one another in the hit film Civil War — a last-minute cameo on behalf of her husband that had the pair working opposite each other in what can be described as an intense exchange.

“It happened during rehearsal that the actor dropped out, and Jesse was there [in Atlanta, where the movie was filmed] with the kids,” the actress told Seth Meyers during an April 10 appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers. “And I suggested him.”

She added at the time of her husband’s unruly character, “Nobody wants to play this role. It’s very intense.”

GettyImages-2074191325 kirsten dunst on husband movie her kids dont watch
Kirsten Dunst and Jesse Plemons John Shearer/WireImage

“I will say, it helps that I feel like we’ve seen Jesse over the years, both play good guys and bad guys, and we know him to be a good guy,” Meyers responded at the time. “You’re right, if it was some actor I’d never seen before, I would be, like, repulsed every time I saw him ever since. So I feel like Jesse took one for the team.”

“He really did,” Dunst agreed. “He’s a brilliant actor.”

Dunst’s kids are likely to be unfamiliar with her latest film, Roofman, as well. Starring Channing Tatum as escaped convict and professional thief Jeffrey Manchester, the film follows Tatum’s character after he finds solace inside a Toys “R” Us, managing to evade arthritis for months before he falls in love with Dunst’s character, Leigh Wainscott, a divorced mom.

When asked what drew her to the role, Dunst made it clear that it had less to do with the story itself and more to do with who was involved in telling it.

“To be honest, working with Derek Cainfrance,” Dunst told Us of the chance to create alongside the film’s director. “I love his movies, and I love acting in his films and I wanted to be a part of that process. So he could have asked me to do anything, and I would have worked with him.”

Kirsten Dunst Has ‘Very Tense’ Scene With Jesse Plemons in ‘Civil War’

Based on a true story, Dunst also had a chance to meet the real-life Leigh Wainscott in preparation for the role — an experience she said helped her better portray her in the film.

“She has a lot of grace,” Dunst said. “And she’s so, you know, forgiving of what happened and still talks to Jeff. And she was just very giving of her presence — her natural presence. So that’s something that I could take with me in portraying Leigh.”

Dust also dished on what it was like to work alongside Channing.

“He’s lovely,” she gushed of her costar. “He’s a wonderful guy, and also just a very present actor and really kind.”

Roofman hits theaters nationwide on October 10.

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Selena Gomez Shares New Look at Her Multiple Ralph Lauren Wedding Gowns

Selena Gomez opened her wedding album to reveal new details about her three Ralph Lauren gowns.

Following her Saturday, September 27, wedding to Benny Blanco, Gomez, 33, took to Instagram on Tuesday, September 30, to share a carousel of images that focused on her single ceremony design and two reception designs.

The first four photos captured the pop star’s high-neck, double-faced silk satin custom Ralph Lauren Collection halter gown with embroidered multi-dimensional lace artistry at the collar. One particularly stunning black and white snap in the mix showed the bride standing in a garden as her gown’s train was splayed across the grass. Another photo went in on her petite bouquet filled with white Lily of the valley blooms.

The carousel’s remaining images revealed a first look at her two reception gowns: a second custom Ralph Lauren Collection halter-style silk lace dress with 300 hand-shaped lace flowers and a hand-painted corset, plus a flirty custom Ralph Lauren Collection tulle gown with a sweetheart neckline that was worn as she and Blanco, 37, took to the dance floor for their first dance.

Benny Blanco Makes Adorable 1st Comment After Selena Gomez Wedding

Gomez and Blanco, whose real name is Benjamin Joseph Levin, tied the knot in Santa Barbara, California, after Us Weekly confirmed in the lead up that the pair’s festivities would kick off with a rehearsal dinner on Friday, September 26.

A source told Us in the week prior, “It will be a huge, A-list, star-studded wedding planned by Mindy Weiss.”

Gomez shared a first glimpse of her nuptials one day after the ceremony was staged, taking to Instagram with a carousel of loved-up Polaroid snaps and romantic videos packed with PDA. “🤍 9.27.25 🤍,” she captioned her first social media post.

In her most recent share, the Only Murders In the Building star also offered a peek into her reception, which Us confirmed on Monday, September 29, was filled with Persian rugs and florals aligned to a brown, white and red color scheme. One of Gomez’s photos captured her and Blanco, a music producer, walking along a Persian rug arm-in-arm and flashing wide grins.

Selena Gomez Shares Stunning Pics From Her Bachelorette Party

Another photo from Gomez’s new Instagram post captured the couple’s wedding cake which was shaped as a love heart with the words, “Just married,” written beside a bride and groom cake topper. As Gomez and Blanco posed beside their wedding cake, the pair held glasses of bubbles to toast their magic moment.

Us confirmed earlier on Tuesday that Gomez is “radiating joy” since tying the knot with Blanco. A source told Us exclusively, “Selena had nerves before doing her first look with Benny, but from that moment on, she was radiating joy. You could tell how happy she was, and she did not stop smiling or crying tears of joy the entire day.”

The insider added that once Gomez’s wedding wrapped, she “kept saying this was the best weekend and day of her life and how much it meant that everyone was there for them.”

Gomez and Blanco were married in front of 150 guests including famous friends including Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, Cara Delevingne, and her Only Murders costars Martin Short, Steve Martin and Paul Rudd.

The pair got engaged in December 2024 after dating for roughly one year and forming a friendship that spanned several years. Blanco also produced multiple tracks on the singer’s 2015 album, Revival.

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Travis Kelce Proposes to Taylor Swift in Festive Halloween Display

There’s nothing spooky about this Halloween house — Swifties in New Orleans have updated their annual Halloween display to include Travis Kelce proposing to Taylor Swift! Check it out — the ‘Skeleton House,’ as it’s nicknamed, shows Travis…

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Caretaker power and fuel hikes: Who is responsible before Malawi’s presidential swearing-in?

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Malawians are reeling from a sharp fuel price hike just days before Peter Mutharika is set to be sworn in as the country’s next president.

With the September 16, 2025, elections behind them, many are asking a pressing question: who is legally responsible for decisions taken in the interim period between an election defeat and the formal handover of power?

Malawi’s Constitution provides a clear answer.

Section 83(3) states: “The President shall hold office for five years, but shall continue in office until his or her successor has been sworn in.”

This ensures that even after losing an election, the incumbent president continues to wield full executive authority until the incoming president formally takes the oath.

Following the September elections, President Lazarus Chakwera legally remains head of state and chief executive until Mutharika’s scheduled swearing-in on Saturday, October 4, 2025.

This includes full oversight of economic, administrative, and regulatory decisions, such as the recent adjustments in petrol and diesel prices announced by the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA).

History confirms this practice in Malawi.

When Bakili Muluzi completed his second term in 2004, he remained fully in office until Bingu wa Mutharika was sworn in.

In 2012, after Bingu’s sudden death, Joyce Banda assumed the presidency immediately, but until her formal swearing-in, the late president was still legally head of state.

In 2014, after losing to Peter Mutharika, Joyce Banda remained president until the swearing-in ceremony, continuing to make administrative decisions despite public criticism and allegations of political maneuvering.

These examples show that Malawi consistently applies the principle that incumbents retain full authority until their successors are sworn in, even in tense or controversial circumstances.

Malawi is not alone in this.

In the United States, outgoing presidents maintain authority until January 20, issuing executive orders, granting pardons, and managing foreign policy.

However, the “lame-duck” period carries risks, as seen in Donald Trump’s final weeks in 2020, when sweeping pardons and challenges to election results exposed potential abuses of transitional power.

Zambia and Kenya provide additional lessons.

When Edgar Lungu lost to Hakainde Hichilema in 2021, he remained in office until the handover.

Kenya’s post-election transitions in 2007–2008 revealed how delays or manipulations during transition can spark conflict.

These cases highlight a universal principle: legitimacy flows from constitutional order, not merely election outcomes.

While transitional authority ensures continuity, it can also be misused.

Out-of-office incumbents can make last-minute policy changes or shield allies from accountability, potentially leaving the incoming administration with contentious decisions and the public with unanswered questions.

The recent fuel price hike in Malawi exemplifies this tension: legally approved by the outgoing Chakwera government, but politically and socially sensitive as it impacts citizens before the new president assumes office.

To protect democracy and limit abuse during transitional periods, Malawi could consider reforms.

Parliament could legislate that significant economic or administrative changes—such as fuel price adjustments, international borrowing, or high-value contracts—be limited between election results and the swearing-in.

A panel of Parliament, judiciary, and civil society could monitor decisions during transitions to ensure necessity and public interest.

Reducing the time between election declaration and swearing-in, as done in Zambia, minimizes the risk of controversial decisions.

Outgoing presidents must also be guided by law and integrity, recognizing that their final acts shape both legacy and national stability.

As Peter Mutharika prepares to take office on October 4, 2025, the caretaker fuel price adjustments underscore the dual reality of transitional governance: it is both constitutionally essential and politically sensitive.

Malawians should take this moment to reflect on the importance of legal continuity, the risks of lame-duck power, and the reforms necessary to ensure that transitions strengthen, rather than strain, democracy.

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Former DRC President Joseph Kabila sentenced to death, ordered to pay US$50 billion

KINSHASA-(MaraviPost)-Former President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Joseph Kabila, has been sentenced to death and ordered to pay US$30 billion in damages.

He is said to be living in exile in South Africa.

Kabila, who served as president from 2001 to 2019, left the DRC in 2023 but recently visited Goma in the east of the country, an area controlled by the M23 rebel group.

The former president went on trial in absentia in July for allegedly supporting the Rwanda-backed rebels, who seized large swaths of territory in eastern Congo earlier this year.

A military tribunal in Kinshasa, presided over by Lieutenant General Joseph Mutombo Katalayi, convicted him of treason, crimes against humanity, murder, sexual assault, torture, and insurrection.

“In applying Article 7 of the Military Penal Code, it imposes a single sentence, namely the most severe one, which is the death penalty,” Katalayi declared when delivering the verdict.

In addition to the death sentence, Kabila was ordered to pay nearly 50 billion dollars in damages to the state and victims.

Analysts warn the ruling could deepen political and regional divides in the vast, mineral-rich central African nation, which has endured decades of conflict.

Kabila held power for almost two decades and only stepped down after violent protests against his rule.

Since late 2023, he has mostly resided in South Africa, though he appeared in rebel-held Goma in May.

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