STATUS UPDATES
A week in which a dying man gets his wish and a U.S. diplomat is pranked by Russians
FULFILLED: The dying wish of a terminally ill Connecticut man. Trump supporter Jay Barrett, in palliative care with cystic fibrosis, wanted some contact with the president — and got a phone call. His sister helped make it happen, though she calls herself “100 per cent” Democrat.
ABANDONED: The 20-year partnership between celebrity chef Mario Batali and the Bastianich family of restaurateurs. The dissolution comes more than a year after Batali was accused of sexual harassment and assault. Batali is also selling his shares in the Eataly supermarket chain.
LUCKY: The winner of a record $1.5-billion (U.S.) lottery jackpot in South Carolina. Lucky, and nice. The winner gave up a spot in line for someone else to buy a ticket, before buying one himself (or herself — the winner is anonymous). The Mega Millions numbers were randomly generated.
UNLUCKY: The U.S. envoy for Venezuela. Elliott Abrams was the victim of a prank by two Russians, who recorded him saying the U.S. wouldn’t use force in the country unless the government did something “completely crazy” like attack the U.S. Embassy. Abrams thought he was talking to a Swiss official.
WELCOMED: Kylie Jenner, to the billionaire club. The reality star and makeup mogul has become the world’s youngest, according to Forbes. The magazine also called her “the youngest self-made billionaire of all time.” The Kardashian-Jenner family member ranked 2,057 on the list of 2,153 billionaires.
MOURNED: Karl Lagerfeld, at a show of his final collection. Paris fashion week honoured the late designer, against a backdrop of a Tyrolean village. The mood was described as mostly celebratory, but there was a moment’s silence, during which some guests couldn’t resist taking selfies against the set.
LOST: A firefighter’s facial hair. The New Jersey man is suing, alleging the beard he grew for religious reasons had to be shaved. Alexander Smith says the department is threatening to suspend him. Guidelines ban beards, saying they can affect the seal of breathing masks. Smith is an air mask technician.
FOUND: A cave at the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza. Mexican archeologists say it has offerings of about 200 ceramic vessels in nearly untouched condition. The vessels appear to date back to about the year 1000. The cave had actually been found, but not explored, by locals 50 years ago.