Nicolas Cage fans are praising the actor after Minnie Driver revealed he once purchased a plane seat for his son’s imaginary friend. Driver shared the story about the National Treasure star, 59, who is father to sons Kal-El, 17, and Weston, 32, from previous relationships, and daughter August, nine months, with wife Riko Shibata, on Instagram on Monday in response to a viral post about Cage. The post, which was shared by the Instagram account @Iamthirtyaf and included an amusing roundup of tweets, memes and anecdotes about Cage, prompted Driver to share her own story about the actor. “Was once on a plane with NC and his son and a seat had also been purchased for his son’s imaginary friend,” Driver wrote in the comments under the viral post. She concluded her comment with a black heart emoji. The anecdote was met with joy from Instagram users, with many praising Cage for the “sweet” parenting moment. “This is amazing,” one person commented, while another said: “That’s so sweet!” “Thank you for sharing that very Nicholas Cage sweet thing to do,” someone else wrote. While the majority of responses to the story were positive, Driver’s recollection prompted one person to joke about a possible alternative reason Cage may have purchased the extra seat on the plane. “Think he just didn’t want anyone else sitting in their row?” they wrote. “Now that’s a whole new level of wealth,” another person commented. Although Cage has not addressed the anecdote himself, he has spoken candidly about the joy fatherhood brings him on a number of occasions. In 2015, Cage opened up about becoming a grandfather after his eldest son, Weston, had children of his own while speaking to People, with the actor telling the outlet: “To see my son with my grandson is as close to a sense of blissful completion I ever had.” In April 2022, after a representative for Cage confirmed that he and Shibata were expecting their first child together,The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent star told Access Hollywood that he was “extremely excited” to be a father again. “My boys are all grown up, and I miss going to the toy store. I miss singing lullabies and rocking in the rocking chair,” he said. “I’m looking forward to getting back to that.” The couple, who married in February of last year, welcomed their daughter on 7 September 2022. The Independent has contacted a representative for Cage for comment. Read More Nicolas Cage says he remembers being in his mother’s womb Nicolas Cage explains why he prefers the term ‘thespian’ to ‘actor’: ‘Sorry if that is pretentious’ British toddler has American accent after watching popular YouTube show How do I get a mammogram screening? Hacks for saving money on school uniforms

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Colleen Ballinger’s legal team told Pop Crave that her apology song was not uploaded to iTunes and Apple Music by her or her team after social media continued to criticise the YouTube star. The video has now been removed from both iTunes and Apple Music. On Tuesday (July 11) Ethan Klein, host of the H3 Podcast, tweeted that Ballinger’s apology song had been uploaded to CD Baby under the name Toxic Gossip Train. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter CD Baby is a website that allows people to monetise their music by independently uploading their songs to platforms like YouTube. Klein shared that he had received a copyright claim due to using less than a minute of the song in his video. Shortly after, many realised that the song had also been uploaded to Ballinger’s official profile on iTunes and Apple Music. The 10-minute ukulele song was being sold for $10. The initial discovery sparked further outrage on Twitter. Adam McIntyre who alleges he was groomed and manipulated by Ballinger called her a “f***ing joke”. McIntyre also took the opportunity to point out the irony in the moment, in her song Ballinger had accused the public of ‘monetising’ her demise. Other users were shocked at the idea of Ballinger copyrighting those who featured the apology in videos talking about the subject, as well as charging $10 for the song on iTunes: After Pop Crave updated the story, Klein responded saying that “she still has our podcast claimed”. Ballinger herself has not made any public comment. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

Turkish warplanes have carried out airstrikes on sites believed to be used by U.S.-backed Kurdish fighters in northern Syria

Desmond Ridder passed and ran for touchdowns, Younghoe Koo kicked a go-ahead 37-yard field goal as time expired, and the Atlanta Falcons snapped a two-game losing streak by beating the Houston Texans 21-19

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Angel Correa's Moments SBC is now available in FIFA 22 after being leaked on July 12. Correa's Moments item is a 94-rated striker and is live in-game now to complete. Here's how to complete the new Moments SBC in FIFA 22.

Sniffer dogs have been called in to help inspect French trains and the Paris metro for bedbugs after dozens of reports of infestations caused alarm in the French capital. Public transport users have taken to standing on the metro instead of sitting on the fabric seats as panic spreads over the reported infestations, while others have posted on social media about the creatures swarming over their Airbnb rentals. Transport minister Clement Beaune said there had been about 10 traveller reports about bedbugs at Paris public transport operator RATP and 37 at rail operator SNCF in recent weeks – but he denied there was an outbreak. "When there is a problem, we deal with it, we won’t deny it. There is no outbreak of bedbugs in public transport," Mr Beaune said after meeting transport and travel chiefs. French social and traditional media have reported extensively on bedbugs on trains and in cinemas, and the government has concerns about its impact on tourism and the Paris Olympics, which start in less than a year. Deputy mayor of Paris Emmanuel Gregoire called the infestation “widespread”, and Eurostar this week stepped up cleaning on its trains because of the threat. Bedbug bites leave red marks on the body that may cause itchy welts. Infestations in the home often need treating by pest controllers, and bedding has to be washed in water of 60C or more. Mr Beaune said all French public transport operators would boost health procedures in general and the fight against bedbugs in particular, notably with canine sniffer teams, which he said were the most effective means of detection. He added that every three months, data will be published about all bedbug reports and any confirmed infestations. “Total transparency will bring total confidence,” he said, adding that there was “no need for psychosis or fear”. He also plans to meet pest-control companies and to organise a conference on any problem by the end of this month. With a typical lifespan of four to six months, bedbugs can be carried in luggage and boxes, and on clothing and bedding. Experts say the UK already has bedbugs but the Paris epidemic could boost their numbers. David Cain, founder of Bed Bugs Ltd and a qualified microbiologist, said: “I have known people go on day trips to Paris, not even staying in hotels or other high-risk activities, and come back with them. Paris has been a popular link for the last six years. “Business is already booming. I started doing this in 2005, when bedbugs were rare and obscure, but [they are] not any more.” A Eurostar spokesperson told The Independent: “The textile surfaces on all of our trains are cleaned thoroughly on a regular basis, and this involves hot-water injection and extraction cleaning, which has proven highly effective in eliminating bugs.” Read More Eurostar orders deep clean to stop bedbugs from Paris crossing Channel to London Transport for London gives latest on feared bedbug invasion from Paris How to check for bedbugs in your hotel room – and what to do if you spot one Is London prepared for the bedbug invasion that has swarmed Paris?

Israel’s ambassador to Moscow offered new details of the weekend riots at an airport in southern Russia when a flight from Tel Aviv landed there, saying some of the passengers had to hide in the terminal before being flown by helicopter to safety

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