Wednesday 15 June 2022

A historic disaster in Yellowstone, beginner yoga moves, and Justin Bieber's facial paralysis explained. Here's the latest.

June 15, 2022 | VIEW IN BROWSER

Your day starts here. The latest in news, pop culture, wellness and more.

Unprecedented flooding causes the evacuation of 10,000 visitors and widespread destruction at Yellowstone National Park, and Amber Heard says she "absolutely" still has love for Johnny Depp after their trial. Plus, superstar boy band BTS announces what sounds like a hiatus (but don't call it a "hiatus.")

THE LATEST

Massive flooding leads to 10,000 visitors being evacuated from Yellowstone National Park in frightening scene.

One of the nation's iconic national parks remains closed today during the busy summer season after damaging flooding washed out roads, collapsed bridges and even destroyed some homes while forcing the evacuation of at least 10,000 visitors, officials said. As much as three inches of torrential rain, combined with snow melt caused by warm temperatures, has caused dangerous conditions in the park that spans Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. It's not clear when the park will reopen.

Amber Heard says she still has love for Johnny Depp 'with all my heart.'

In the second part of her exclusive interview with Savannah Guthrie this morning, Heard says she still loves ex-husband Johnny Depp even after their contentious defamation trial. "I love him. I loved him with all my heart," she said. "I have no bad feelings or ill will towards him at all." Heard acknowledged that might be hard for some to fathom after she testified that he physically and emotionally abused her, which he denied in his testimony. "I know that might be hard to understand, or it might be really easy to understand," she said.

What is Ramsay Hunt syndrome? Here's the deal with Justin Bieber's facial paralysis.

Justin Bieber said Tuesday he has "gotten better" as he deals with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, a rare disorder caused by a viral infection in the ear that leads to facial paralysis. Bieber, 28, has had to cancel shows due to one side of his face being paralyzed, calling it "a horrific storm." A doctor broke down for us what exactly Ramsay Hunt syndrome is, how it's treated, and how long it may take for someone to recover. "It's not something that happens overnight," Dr. Anna Pace told us.

🎤 Amid 'a rough patch,' pop superstars BTS say they are taking time to pursue solo projects.

South Korean pop supergroup BTS said its members are planning to pursue solo projects after nine years of globe-spanning world domination. In a video, the seven band members discussed plans for solo work while thanking fans and also reassuring them at the same time. "It's not like we're disbanding!" band member Suga said, while another member said the group was going through "a rough patch." The word "hiatus" was used in English subtitles on the announcement, but the South Korean entertainment company behind the group later clarified they will still be working together.

GIVE IT A SHOT

Achieve your life goals with this easy tip.

We'll be honest, the thought of trying to contort ourselves into yoga positions sounds like a popped hammy rolled up with some lower back aches and a side of unintentional comedy. It turns out there's no reason to be afraid, as personal trainer Stephanie Mansour has these 6 beginner poses to ease your fears and help you reap some yoga benefits like stress relief, decreased muscle pain, help with anxiety and weight loss.

WHAT'S FOR DINNER?

Allow us to do the meal-planning for you.

Put a twist on the traditional Vietnamese banh mi sandwich with some homemade meatballs from "Top Chef" competitor Dale Talde. Dale stopped by the TODAY kitchen to show us how to make meatballs with eggplant, pork and beef to pair with the crusty bread, spicy mayo and pickles that are hallmarks of a banh mi. Roast the meatballs at a medium heat to get them nice and juicy and then crank up the temperature for a nice char on the outside.

DAILY DELIGHT

A little pick-me-up before you go.

There's nothing like a surprise reunion with old friends! The TODAY team couldn't contain their astonishment when they were surprised live on the plaza by some longtime friends hiding in the crowd. It started with Savannah sharing a sweet hug with friend Melissa Mana, who popped out among a group of fans from Savannah's home state of Arizona. Al, Carson, Craig and Hoda then all had surprises of their own when they were reunited with friends going back to their college days. (Or, in Carson's case, his "TRL" days!)