Trump administration removes three spyware-linked executives from sanctions list

By Raphael Satter

WASHINGTON, Dec 30 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's administration has lifted sanctions on three executives tied to the spy software consortium Intellexa, according to a notice ​published to the U.S. Treasury's website.

The move partially reverses the imposition of sanctions ‌last year by then-President Joe Biden's administration on seven people tied to Intellexa. The Treasury Department at the time ‌described the consortium, launched by former Israeli intelligence official Tal Dilian, as "a complex international web of decentralized companies that built and commercialized a comprehensive suite of highly invasive spyware products."

A Treasury spokesman declined to comment.

A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the removal "was done as part of ⁠the normal administrative process in response ‌to a petition request for reconsideration." The official added that each of the individuals had "demonstrated measures to separate themselves from the Intellexa Consortium."

Intellexa representatives ‍did not immediately respond to email messages requesting comment.

The notice said sanctions were lifted on Sara Hamou, whom the U.S. government accused of providing managerial services to Intellexa, Andrea Gambazzi, whose company was alleged by ​the U.S. government to have held the distribution rights to the Predator spyware, and ‌Merom Harpaz, described by U.S. officials as a top executive in the consortium.

Gambazzi, Hamou and Harpaz did not immediately reply to messages sent to them directly or to their representatives. Dilian, who remains on the sanctions list, did not respond to messages seeking comment.

The Intellexa consortium's flagship "Predator" spyware is at the center of a scandal over the alleged surveillance of a journalist, a ⁠prominent opposition figure and dozens of others in Greece, ​while in 2023 a group of investigative news outlets ​reported that the Vietnamese government had tried to hack members of the U.S. Congress using Intellexa's tools.

Dilian has previously denied any involvement or wrongdoing in the ‍Greek case, and has ⁠not commented publicly on the attempted hacking of U.S. lawmakers.

In its initial wave of sanctions issued in March of last year, the U.S. government accused Intellexa of enabling "the ⁠proliferation of commercial spyware and surveillance technologies" to authoritarian regimes and alleged that its software had been used "in an ‌effort to covertly surveil U.S. government officials, journalists, and policy experts."

(Reporting by Raphael ‌Satter; Editing by Edmund Klamann and Raju Gopalakrishnan)

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December 31, 2025

Trump administration removes three spyware-linked executives from sanctions list

By Raphael Satter WASHINGTON, Dec 30 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's administration has lifted sanction...

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Florida woman facing murder charge in death of ailing mother. Was it mercy?

A Florida woman who told investigators she had discussed assisted suicide with her ailing motherhas been arrested on a murder chargein the death of the ailing 97-year-old woman.

Martha Jo Blake, 66, is facing a first-degree murder in the death of Patricia Blake after the Palm Beach County Medical Examiner's Office ruled that the elder Blake's injuries were inconsistent with a natural death.

Autopsy findings indicate the elder Blake, whose body was found on Dec. 26 in the family's Greenacres-area home, was suffocated or strangled, according to her daughter's arrest report. The doctor performing the autopsy found that the 97-year-old had a fresh neck fracture, an internal hemorrhage on both sides of her neck and an indication that something had been placed over her face, the arrest report said.

The elder Blake suffered persistent illnesses, including Parkinson's disease and a thyroid disorder.

Investigators say that the younger Blake told them that her mother wanted to die because of her health issues and that she previously had discussed assisted suicide with her mother's primary care physician in Maine, where the practice is legal.

Blake also told investigators that her mother was deemed ineligible for Maine's assisted-suicide program because she did not have a terminal illness. She indicated she and her mother had discussed the option of suicide by taking pills but determined they did not have any that were lethal enough, authorities said.

An affidavit obtained by USA TODAY does not specify whether Blake denies or admits to wrongdoing but says she told investigators that she last saw her mother alive the night before she was found.

A judge assigned a public defender to represent her. The county Public Defender's Office has a policy of not commenting on active cases.

Where is assisted suicide legal?

Although what happened to Patricia Blake is unclear, the case raises questions over ongoing debate about assisted suicide.

Some states in the U.S. have moved to pass so-called "Death with Dignity" laws that allow for assisted suicide. Such laws are found worldwide but remain controversial.

Assisted suicide is legal in Washington, D.C., and 12 states: California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont and Washington, according to Death with Dignity, a group that supports assisted-suicide laws.

The practice is illegal in Florida.

Several states that have legalized assisted suicide have guardrails in place to ensure the decision meets ethical and legal requirements. Commonly, patients must be at least 18 years old, a resident of the state in which they are seeking care and have a terminal illness with a prognosis of six months or less.

The following states are considering legalizing the practice: Indiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina and Pennsylvania, according to Death with Dignity.

More about the history of assisted suicide laws

Oregon was the first state to pass laws supporting assisted suicide. The Oregon Death with Dignity Act went into effect in 1997, according to Death with Dignity.

Illinois andDelawarewere the latest states to legalize assisted suicide in 2025.

The law in Delaware allows terminally ill patients who have six months or less to live to request and receive medication that will "end the individual's life in a humane and dignified manner," according to reporting byThe New Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network.

Around the world the practice is legal in Canada,nineEuropean countries andthreeLatin American countries, according toDignity in Dying, a London-based group that advocates in support of legalizing the practice.

Pope Leo XIV weighs in on Illinois legalizing assisted suicide

Pope Leo XIV, a native of Chicago, weighed in on his home state passing the controversial legislation.

Leo told reporters in Italy that he had directly expressed his disapproval of the legislation toGov. JB Pritzker.

"We were very clear about the necessity to respect the sacredness of life, from the very beginning to the very end," Leotold reportersat Castel Gandolfo, near Rome. "Unfortunately … he decided to sign that bill. I'm very disappointed about that. I would invite all people, especially on these Christmas feast days, to reflect upon the nature of human life, the goodness of human life."

Michael Loria is a senior reporter for USA TODAY.Julius Whigham II is a criminal justice and public safety reporter for The Palm Beach Post.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Was it mercy? Daughter faces murder charge in 97-year-old mom's death

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December 31, 2025

Florida woman facing murder charge in death of ailing mother. Was it mercy?

A Florida woman who told investigators she had discussed assisted suicide with her ailing motherhas been arrested on a mu...

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Hiker killed in fall on California mountain was 19-year-old 'avid outdoorsman'

(This story was updated to add new information.)

One ofthree hikers found deadafter an unsuccessful rescue attempt on Southern California's Mount Baldy has been identified as a 19-year-old whose family says he was an avid outdoorsman and that they are "destroyed" by his loss.

Marcus Alexander Muench Casanova, a 19-year-old resident of Seal Beach, was identified as one of the three male hikers who died amid windy conditions on the snow-covered mountain earlier this week, the San Bernardino County Coroner said on Wednesday, Dec. 31.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Coroner said it's working to identify the other two hikers.

Casanova's body was found Monday, but dangerous winds delayed recovery efforts until Tuesday. Friends say he fell about 500 feet near Devil's Backbone, a trail that lures many hikers and mountaineers to the San Gabriel mountain's highest peak.

The teenager's family issued a statement Wednesday, calling him "an incredibly sweet and empathetic young man."

"We are destroyed by the loss of our beloved Marcus," they wrote. "He was a graduate of Los Alamitos High, a freshman at Santa Clara University's business school, and an avid sailor and outdoorsman ... It is difficult to explain the pain and anguish we are going through and ask for privacy as we try to find our way."

Authorities said they responded to a request at about 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 29 to locate an injured 19-year-old male hiker near the Devil's Backbone trail, who'd reportedly fallen approximately 500 feet. During an aerial search, authorities located the injured hiker and two others. However, due to severe winds, the helicopter was unable to complete the rescue safely, authorities said.

Severe winds continued to hamper another rescue effort later that evening, during which an air medic confirmed all three hikers were dead. The helicopter was unable to complete the recovery efforts, county officials said.

Is Mount Baldy still closed?

The Mount Baldy area of the San Gabriel Mountains istemporarily closeduntil 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 31, according to the Angeles National Forest.

San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Shannon Dicus said the temporary closure is "necessary to prevent additional emergencies and protect lives."

"The tragic loss of life on Mt. Baldy and repeated rescue responses highlight how dangerous current conditions are, even for experienced hikers," Dicus said. "Weather and terrain conditions remain extremely dangerous and unpredictable, posing a significant risk to both the public and Search and Rescue personnel."

Paris Barraza is a reporter covering Los Angeles and Southern California for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her atpbarraza@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Teenage hiker killed in fall on California's Mt. Baldy was 'beloved'

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December 31, 2025

Hiker killed in fall on California mountain was 19-year-old 'avid outdoorsman'

(This story was updated to add new information.) One ofthree hikers found deadafter an unsuccessful rescue attem...

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Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen's Friendship: Inside the “New Year’s Eve Live” Stars’ Decades-Old Bond

Noam Galai/Getty

NEED TO KNOW

• Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen have been friends since the early 2000s

• They reconnected years after a friend set them up on a blind date, which Cooper called off

• The CNN reporter and the reality TV host have been hosting CNN's New Year's Eve broadcast together since 2017

Anderson CooperandAndy Cohenhave been friends for over 20 years.

The reality TV host and longtime CNN reporter were originally set up on a blind date by mutual friends in the '90s, but Cooper called it off before they could get together. Luckily, they reconnected years later and have been close friends ever since.

Over the years, Cooper and Cohen have supported each other through major life events, including the death of Cooper's motherGloria Vanderbiltand thebirths of their respective children. The duo also appear together on TV often — Cooper has been a guest onWatch What Happens Live! with Andy Cohenmultiple times, and the pair have been hosting CNN's New Year's Eve broadcast since 2017.

Though the two have been known to poke jokes at each other, Cohen had somesweet words for Coopershortly after he welcomed his first son, Wyatt. During a May 2020 episode of his SiriusXMRadio Andyshow, Cohen admitted that Cooper's baby announcement "had me in a puddle of tears" as "you really have to jump through a lot of hoops to have a baby as a gay man."

"He went through a lot, and I'm just so happy that his son is so beautiful and happy and healthy. I've already seen Anderson light up and open up in new ways," the Bravo star added.

From going on tour together to becoming "playground dads," here's everything to know about Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen's friendship.

1990s: Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen get set up on a blind date by friends

During a December 2017The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Cooper and Cohen shared that they first met when friends tried to set them up on a blind date. At the time, Cooper was a reporter at ABC and Cohen was working for CBS.

"We had a phone call to set up the date, and I knew within 45 seconds I was never going on a date with Andy Cohen," Cooper shared with hostJimmy Fallon. "He violated my cardinal rule, which is he asked me about my mom [Gloria Vanderbilt] within the first minute of talking to me."

"I wanted to date the Vanderbilt boy! I was excited!" Cohen exclaimed. Cooper ended up canceling the date.

Early 2000s: Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen start vacationing with the same group of friends

The friends shared in a December 2017 interview withThe New York Timesthat they both knew businessmanBarry Dillerand began vacationing with him and his friends. "We wound up in this group that would travel together, [Diller] and his friends," Cohen said.

Some of the friends they traveled with included Diller's wife, fashion designerDiane von Furstenberg, and the late talent managerSandy Gallin.

"I remember going up some waterway in a slow-moving boat, talking to you, sort of entranced. Andy, even before he was on TV, was the life of the party," Cooper added.

"Then we would have dinner occasionally, or be at the same party. We went to Croatia in 2005. I was at Bravo then," Cohen continued.

In an August 2015 interview withEntertainment Weekly, Cohen explained, "Really the way we became friends is he and I have been around the world and back together. We've really been around the world together."

September 12, 2010: Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen sit front row at a DVF show

The duo turned out to support their friend von Furstenberg for her Spring 2011 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. They were seated next toSarah Jessica Parkerin the front row at the event, which marked one of their first public outings as friends.

December 12, 2010: Anderson Cooper appears onWatch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

Cooper made his first appearance on Cohen's Bravo show,Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohenin 2010, alongsideNeNe LeakesfromThe Real Housewives of Atlanta.

Cooper and Leakes had previously spoken about how much they liked the other in various media appearances, but theWWHLepisode was the first time they'd met in person.

November 14, 2014: Anderson Cooper interviews Andy Cohen live to promoteThe Andy Cohen Diaries

When Cohen's second book was released, he asked Cooper to do aninterview with him at the 92nd Street Yin New York City.

The two bantered back and forth, with Cooper telling the audience, "It's a little weird because he was trying to make out with me right before we came out here."

"It was a wonderful night. We have really nice chemistry. ... It isn't good enough to date, but we've got great chemistry," Cohen later shared with theAtlanta Jewish Timesin June 2015.

March 21, 2015: Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen's AC2 tour kicks off in Boston

Not long after their 92nd St Y appearance, Cooper and Cohen were encouraged to do similar shows around the country.

"My agent was in the crowd [at the 92nd St Y interview], and she was like, 'You guys should take this on the road,' " Cooper shared withTheNew York Times.

Cohen added, "We looked at each other, and, immediately, were like, 'Oh, my God, we can travel the country together.' "

They started the AC2 tour in Boston, as they revealed onWWHL, and have since traveled to 50 different cities.

July 5, 2017: Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen vacation in Bora Bora together

The duo vacationed together in Bora Bora in 2017. Cohen posted a picture of himself and Cooper with the caption, "Caught a silver fox swimming by a deserted island!"

In it, both wore long-sleeve O'Neill rash guards, and Cohen sported a colorful pair of swim trunks.

December 31, 2017: Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen host CNN's New Year's Eve broadcast together for the first time

In October 2017, it was announced that Cohen would be joining Cooper to host CNN's New Year's Eve Live broadcast. The decision was made after CNN elected to cut ties withKathy Griffin.

Ahead of the night, Cooper and Cohen spoke to PEOPLE about what viewers could expect from the broadcast.

"Andy is who is he andhe's kind of the life of the party wherever he goes," Cooper said in December 2017. "And I think it's going to reflect our friendship and the comfort we have with each other and the dynamic of our relationship. We're as curious to see where it goes and what happens! We're both eager and excited about it."

December 28, 2018: Anderson Cooper sends well wishes to dad-to-be Andy Cohen

During a December 2018 episode ofWWHL, Cohen revealed that he wasgoing to be a father, and several of his famous friends sent well wishes to the host, including Cooper.

"I'm so excited for Andy, he is going to be a great dad!" the CNN anchor told PEOPLE in December 2018. "And I'm so glad he finally announced it, so I can pepper him with questions on New Year's Eve!"

February 27, 2019: Anderson Cooper spends time with Andy Cohen's newborn son

Shortly after thebirth of Cohen's son, Benjamin Allen, the new dad shared a sweet snap onInstagramof his newborn lying in his crib while Cooper looked on. He wrote in the caption, "Uncle Anderson got an exclusive."

June 17, 2019: Andy Cohen pays tribute to Anderson Cooper's mother Gloria Vanderbilt

AfterVanderbilt's death at 95 years oldin June 2017, Cohen posted a thoughtful tribute to her onInstagram.

"Gloria Vanderbilt was an amazing woman who lived a life filled with incredible peaks and impossible obstacles. Through it all she remained eternally optimistic with a wicked sense of humor," he wrote in the caption.

Cohen continued, "In fact, Anderson's iconic and infectious giggle comes from his mom. Sending Anderson all my love, and may she Rest In Peace."

A few days later, heshared a sweet anecdoteabout Cooper and Vanderbilt. "I think how sweet — every time I saw her with Anderson, he always held her hand, which really touched me," he told PEOPLE.

April 30, 2020: Anderson Cooper welcomes a son and Andy Cohen congratulates him

On April 27, 2020, Cooper welcomed his son,Wyatt Cooper. He shared the news on a broadcast ofAnderson Cooper 360°and on Instagram, posting a sweet picture of himself and Wyatt onInstagram.

Shortly after, the Bravo host shared a picture of Cooper and his newborn onInstagram. "'New life, new hope!' Wyatt Cooper, you couldn't have come at a better time! I know a friend who can't wait to meet you!" he captioned it.

June 22, 2020: Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen's sons meet for the first time

Cooper and Cohen celebrated Father's Day byintroducing their sons to each other oneduring a virtual episode ofWWHL.

"I thought it would be fun if they met right now," Cohen said. "Look, that's gonna be your good buddy Wyatt," the Bravo host told his son Benjamin as he pointed to Wyatt.

"That's gonna be your good buddy and we're gonna travel together. And if you like him half as much as I like his daddy, you're gonna be great friends," he continued.

September 1, 2020: Andy Cohen posts shirtless pictures of Anderson Cooper

Cohen had some fun with Cooper's vacation photos from years past. He posted a few snaps toInstagramwith the caption, "If it were a normal year, I'd be on vacation with my pal...threatening to post shirtless pics of him. Well, it's 2020 and I'm sitting on my deck so I figured I'd just post without asking and piss him off! #SilverFox."

October 9, 2020: Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen take their sons on a playdate

Amid the pandemic, Cooper and Cohen ventured out for asocially distanced playdatewith their sons.

"Playground Dads! (Btw my sweater is from @grantedsweatercompany)," Cohen captioned a photo of the pair taken in New York City's Greenwich Village.

December 31, 2020: Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen take shots during New Year's Eve broadcast

To celebrate the end of 2020, Cooper and Cohentook a round of shotswhile broadcasting the ball drop on New Year's Eve for CNN. The shots came at Cohen's request and Cooper's dismay, and the CNN anchor's reaction to them got more hilarious with each round.

"I have not had a shot since, I think, the last time we were here," Cooper told Cohen before their first drink.

Cohen responded, "You're getting better at it! I would argue that you're getting better at it."

June 2, 2021: Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen celebrate their birthdays together

Cooper (whose birthday is June 3) and Cohen (whose birthday is June 2)celebrated together at a surprise partywith friends, including Parker and her husband,Matthew Broderick.

They both posted toInstagramfor the occasion, with Cooper writing, "So proud of all you've done, the person you are, and the dad you've become."

December 31, 2021: Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen host New Year's Eve broadcast

The duo returned to CNN for New Year's Eve in 2021, where they had shots during the broadcast — including one in honor ofBetty White, whodied that December. As the night went on, Cohen got progressively more intoxicated and made comments about former N.Y.C. mayorBill de BlasioandRyan Seacrest.

"If you look behind me, you'll see Ryan Seacrest's group of losers performing. I'm sorry but if you're watching ABC, you're watching nothing," the Bravo host said at one point.

A few days later, Cohen admitted that he had been "overserved" and addressed his comments, saying, "The only thing that I regret saying, the only thing is that I slammed the ABC broadcast. And I really like Ryan Seacret and he's a great guy and I really regret saying that and I was just stupid and drunk and feeling it."

February 12, 2022: Andy Cohen and his son meet Anderson Cooper's second son Sebastian

Of course, Cohen was one of the first people to meet Cooper's second son,Sebastian, a few days after he was born.

OnInstagram, he shared a sweet picture of himself cradling Sebastian while his own son, Benjamin, gently touched the baby's head.

In the caption, Cohen wrote, "Today we met our new pal Sebastian Maisani-Cooper! He's a peaceful beauty. Ben calls him "Wheels"! Mazel to Anderson & Benjamin."

May 9, 2022: Anderson Cooper meets Andy Cohen's daughter Lucy

It was a big year for both Cooper and Cohen. Just a few months afterCooper welcomed Sebastian, Cohenwelcomed a second childof his own, a daughter named Lucy. Cohen shared a sweet picture ofCooper meeting Lucy, which he captioned in part, "Uncle Anderson, keeping Lucy honest!"

November 18, 2022: Andy Cohen speaks about the 2022 New Year's Eve broadcast with Anderson Cooper

In spite of rumors that CNN wouldn't be allowing on-air presenters to drink on camera during the 2022 New Year's Eve broadcast, Cohen said viewers can probably expect to see him and Anderson doing shots together per usual.

"I think people enjoy seeing me feed Anderson shots andthat's on the menu," he shared with PEOPLE.

December 15, 2022: Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen discuss dating apps

While promoting their upcoming New Year's Eve special onThe Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Cooper and Cohen discussed their dating lives and revealed whether or not they are on the apps. "I'm back out there, I'm on the apps. I'm on Tinder, I'm on Raya," Cohen said.

When Colbert asked if Anderson was on Raya, Cohen jumped in and said, "No, but I would like him to be and I would like him to be on Tinder."

The pair then pitched each other to potential prospects and shared the best things about each other, as well as the downsides.

December 27, 2022: Andy Cohen says he and Anderson Cooper have bonded over being gay dads

Cohen spoke about howhis friendship with Cooperhas evolved since they became parents in an episode of hisTable for Twopodcast.

"We are these geriatric patients hobbling around chasing our children, but look it's another bonding thing," Cohen said.

He also mentioned that he's glad his and Cooper's kids will be able to grow up together.

"I think what is going to be really interesting to us, as it develops, is being gay dads and as our kids start realizing more and more 'Oh I have gay dads.' I am so glad that Ben [Cohen] will grow up with Wyatt [Cooper] and that Ben with grow up seeing Anderson and Benjamin [Maisani] raising Wyatt and Sebastian."

May 7, 2023: Anderson Cooper interviews Andy Cohen forCBS Sunday Morning

Cohen sat down with Cooper for an interview onCBS Sunday Morningto promote his bookThe Daddy Diaries.

"Well, this is weird. I suddenly feel very vulnerable. You need to do yourBarbara WaltersJedi thing right now and make me feel comfortable," Cohen joked.

The two friends mostly discussed the Bravo host's decision to become a single dad.

"Doing this without a partner, did it give you great pause?" Cooper asked. To which Cohen responded: "I'm happy to say it didn't. I just thought, I want to do this and I'm doing it and I know it's going to be really hard. As a single parent, I just worry about being everything to them. I want to be everything to them, and I know how impossible that is, in a weird way."

December 29, 2024: Andy Cohen reveals the most "annoying" part about working with Anderson Cooper

TheWWHLhost revealed to PEOPLE in December 2024 that the most "annoying" part about working with Cooper is how he's forced to eventually "be the straight guy."

"Literally, he's in a puddle of giggles for the last 90 minutes of the broadcast, and I'm the one that's hitting all the commercial breaks," Cohen joked. "I kind of turn into Mr. CNN for the last 90 minutes, and he turns into Mr. Bravo. It's a very funny role reversal."

December 17, 2025: Anderson Cooper jokes he checks online to see how much Andy Cohen "screwed" them over on NYE

During a December 2025 appearance onThe Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Cooper joked that he looks online during the last half-hour of their annual NYE broadcast to check if Cohen hasgotten them into trouble.

"The problem for me is after New Year's Eve, as soon as we get off, really in the last 30 minutes, I'm just looking at things online to see in what ways has he screwed us over," he said. "[What] did he say I'm gonna have to like, clean up after? Will the headline [of] the Drudge Report inevitably be the next morning, 'This is CNN?,' with a picture of this guy?' "

Read the original article onPeople

byAlpha World

in

December 31, 2025

Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen's Friendship: Inside the “New Year’s Eve Live” Stars’ Decades-Old Bond

Noam Galai/Getty NEED TO KNOW Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen have been friends since the early 2000s They reconnected years after a frien...

Read More