OLIVER STONE
Hal Holbrook, prolific actor who played Twain, dies at 95
FILE - Actor Hal Holbrook appears during an interview in his New York apartment on Feb. 8, 1973. Holbrook died on Jan. 23 in Beverly Hills, California, his representative, Steve Rohr, told The Associated Press Tuesday. Holbrook died on Jan. 23 in Beverly Hills, California, his representative, Steve Rohr, told The Associated Press on Tuesday. Holbrook’s material is uproarious, his ability to hold an audience by acting is brilliant,” said The New York Times. AdWhen he wasn’t portraying Twain, Holbrook showed impressive versatility.
US filmmaker Oliver Stone praises Putin for role in Syria
RIYADH American filmmaker Oliver Stone on Wednesday praised Russian President Vladimir Putin as a "stabilizing force" in the Middle East, particularly in Syria as Moscow fills a void left by U.S. forces pulling out and leaving behind their Kurdish allies. It wasn't clear whether Stone, who made the documentary "The Putin Interviews," realized that before beginning his remarks. Meanwhile, activists say Russian airstrikes have repeatedly targeted hospitals and civilian sites in Syria's war, something Moscow denies. U.S. President Donald Trump earlier this month pulled American troops from northern Syria, leading to a Turkish invasion in an area home to U.S.-allied Kurdish forces. In the absence of U.S. troops, Russian military patrols have moved into the region between all the warring parties.