‘Wicked: For Good’ is even more popular than the first, soaring to a $226 million global debut
Universal Pictures' "Wicked: For Good" has taken the box office by storm, earning an estimated $150 million in North America and $226 million globally in its opening weekend. It's the biggest opening ever for a Broadway musical adaptation, surpassing the first film's $112 million launch, and the second biggest of the year. Released earlier this week, the film played in 4,115 North American locations by Friday, with IMAX showings contributing $15.5 million. Women made up 71% of ticket buyers. Directed by Jon M. Chu and starring Cynthia Ervio and Ariana Grande, the film's success is crucial for the exhibition industry as the year ends.
Trump teaming up with Jack Nicklaus to revamp 'president's golf course' at Joint Base Andrews
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says he's teaming up with legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus to revamp the golf courses at Joint Base Andrews. On Saturday, Trump took an aerial tour of the courses and promised improvements. He suggested that the rest of the base needs some fixing up as well, but announced that Nicklaus would serve as architect for any facelift of the golf courses. Located near the White House, Andrews has long been a favorite golfing spot for past presidents. Trump has mostly preferred his own properties in Florida, New Jersey and Virginia for golfing. Questions remain about who will pay for the redesign and improvements, as Andrews is military property. The White House hasn't commented.
Chris Paul hints at retirement from NBA with video before Clippers-Hornets game in his home state
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Los Angeles Clippers point guard Chris Paul hinted at potential retirement after this season. He shared a video on social media before the team's game against the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday, which could be his last in his home state of North Carolina. The video features highlights from his 21-year NBA career, including his childhood and college days at Wake Forest. Paul, 40, is a 12-time NBA All-Star. He was the New Orleans Hornets' fifth overall pick in 2005.
Cargo ship fire in Los Angeles nearly contained after shelter-in-place order lifted
A fire that broke out aboard a container ship docked at the Port of Los Angeles was nearly contained by Saturday afternoon. The blaze briefly prompted a shelter-in-place order Friday night for surrounding communities over concerns about hazardous materials within the ship’s cargo. The order was lifted Saturday and port operations also resumed as normal. All 23 crew members of the ship were accounted for and there were no injuries from the electrical fire, officials said. Roughly 100 cargo containers were burned. Officials said they had identified hazardous materials, such as lithium-ion batteries, aboard the vessel. It was not immediately clear how the fire started.
Rural Greece struggles to cope with predator comeback
LEVEA, Greece (AP) — Populations of brown bears and wolves are burgeoning in Greece, thanks to conservation efforts. But not everyone is enthusiastic about the comeback. Farmers and residents of small villages, fearful for their livelihoods and their own safety, are calling for greater protection after increased sightings and a series of attacks. It’s a phenomenon playing out elsewhere in Europe, too, with some arguing conservation has gone too far and pushing to roll back restrictions.
2 robbers overpower a guard and steal dozens of ancient gold coins from a Swiss museum
GENEVA (AP) — Swiss authorities are searching for two robbers who overpowered a security guard at an ancient Rome-themed museum in Lausanne, smashed a display case and made off with dozens of gold coins that had been displayed inside. City police said late Thursday that the suspects had purchased tickets and waited until other visitors had left shortly before closing time before assaulting and restraining the guard, then breaking the display case. The monetary value of the loot was not immediately revealed but police said the coins had “archaeological value.” Officials said the Lausanne museum employee, a 64-year-old Swiss national, was interviewed by investigators and that he was not injured in the incident.
Wax Diana in ‘revenge dress’ is unveiled in Paris decades after her death in the city
PARIS (AP) — A Paris wax museum has unveiled a figure depicting Princess Diana attired in what has come to be known as her "revenge dress." The Grevin Museum dressed the life-size figure in the black off-the-shoulder cocktail dress that Diana wore on the night in 1994 when her husband Prince Charles, now King Charles III, admitted to infidelity. Diana died in a car crash in Paris in 1997, and the city still honors her memory. Diana's figure joins other British royals and historical figures in the museum.
Why does this NYC subway station smell 'Christmassy'? It's an ad
NEW YORK (AP) — A new advertisement inside the Grand Central subway station is filling the air with a seasonal scent. The campaign for Bath & Body Works sees diffusers release visible bursts of vapor onto one platform with a gentle fragrance that riders liken to “pine" and “fabric softeners.” Rider Jerome Murray says it “smells better than the normal New York City tunnels that we normally smell here." The Metropolitan Transportation Authority says this is the first ad campaign of its kind inside the transit network. Bath & Body Works estimates that 20 to 30 pounds of fragrance will have been dispersed when the campaign ends at the end of November.
Wisconsin archaeologists identify 16 ancient canoes in a prehistoric lake 'parking lot'
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Archaeologists have identified more than a dozen ancient canoes that Indigenous people apparently left behind in a prehistoric parking lot along a Wisconsin lakeshore. The Wisconsin Historical Society announced Wednesday that archaeologists have identified 16 canoes submerged in the lake bed of Lake Mendota in Madison. The discoveries began in 2021 when researchers uncovered the remains of a 1,200-year-old canoe in the lake. The following year they discovered a 3,000-year-old canoe, a 4,500-year-old canoe under it, as well as another 2,000-year-old canoe next to it. The oldest canoe of the 16 the society has now mapped is about 5,200 years old. Maritime archaeologist Tamara Thomsen says the canoes were positioned near a network of indigenous trials.
Meta's chief AI scientist Yann LeCun to leave Meta and start new AI research company
Yann LeCun, a pioneer in artificial intelligence, has announced he will leave his role as Meta's chief AI scientist at the end of the year. He plans to start a new company focused on advanced AI research. This research aims to develop AI that can understand the physical world, have memory, reason, and plan complex actions. Meta will partner with the new startup, with some research overlapping with its commercial interests. LeCun joined Facebook in 2013 and co-founded Meta’s AI research division. He also teaches part-time at New York University and won the Turing Award in 2019.
