Alex Eala returns to the US Open with a roaring fan base and on a path to stardom
NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. Open is the latest stop on Alex Eala's tennis tour that looks like it's ascending to stardom. The 21-year-old fan favorite from the Philippines is less than a month removed from winning her first singles title in Washington. Eala's matches have become must-see entertainment for the crowd reactions. A year ago, she was ranked 75th in the world and came back from down 5-1 in the third set to knock off No. 14 Clara Tauson in front of a packed Grandstand. With Eala up to a career best 18th, Patrick McEnroe warned that organizers better not put her on side courts given her huge following.
How to help after Nepal and Tibet's catastrophic floods
Humanitarian organizations are mobilizing to aid survivors along the Nepal-China border after catastrophic floods struck the region Wednesday. More than 300 people died after a glacier collapse triggered a deadly torrent. Over 1,400 remain missing as of Thursday. The Nepalese army is using helicopters for rescues due to washed-out roads and bridges.. Direct Relief had pre-positioned emergency supplies in Nepal, enabling quick assistance. Other U.S.-based groups like All Hands & Hearts and Catholic Relief Services are also providing aid. Responding organizations emphasize that cash donations are crucial for ongoing relief efforts.
Dolly Parton streams skyrocket after her death, making her the most streamed artist globally
NEW YORK (AP) — Streams of Dolly Parton's music have skyrocketed since the country legend died on Tuesday. She was 80. According to evolving data released early Friday afternoon by the industry data and analytics company Luminate, audio and video streams of Parton’s discography jumped 2,458% on the day of her death compared to Monday in the U.S., climbing from 1.2 million to 30.5 million in the U.S. And by Wednesday, that number rose to 46.3 million. Worldwide, her streams jumped 1,549%, from 2.5 million on Monday to 41.8 million Tuesday. And on Wednesday, her on-demand audio streams jumped to 79.7 million, making her the most streamed artist, globally, on that date.
Tim Curry, iconic character actor and 'Rocky Horror Picture Show' star, dies at 80
Tim Curry has died at 80. The beloved character actor created a gallery of delicious, loony villains for stage and screen. Curry gained fame as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” an iconic role that became a cultural touchstone. He also played the smug concierge in “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.” His longtime friend and manager Marcia Hurwitz says he died Tuesday night at his home in Los Angeles. No cause was disclosed. He had suffered a stroke in 2012 that put him in a wheelchair. Curry earned three Tony nominations — for “Spamalot,” “My Favorite Year” and “Amadeus” — and an Emmy nod in 1994.
Tropical Storms Karina and Lowell form in the Pacific Ocean as Dolly churns in the Atlantic
MIAMI (AP) — Tropical Storms Karina and Lowell have formed in the Pacific Ocean far from land. The National Hurricane Center says both are expected to become hurricanes in the next few days. There are no coastal watches or warnings for either storm. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Dolly has formed in the Atlantic Ocean. The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami says the storm could bring heavy rain to portions of the Caribbean in the coming days. The storm’s name had no connection to Dolly Parton’s death. There were no coastal watches or warnings in effect, but the Leeward Islands could get heavy rain Saturday and Sunday.
A robot sprinter shatters a 100-meter record again as sparks fly at China’s robot competition
BEIJING (AP) — A robot sprinter has broken another 100-meter record at China's World Humanoid Robot Games. The event ended its five-day run with more than 2,000 robots competing in various Olympics-style events. The winning robot finished the 100 meters in 8.64 seconds on Wednesday. That broke a record for the second consecutive day. Several robots crashed into a padded barrier after crossing the finish line. And sparks flew from some as staff rushed in with fire extinguishers. All three records were set by the same humanoid robot model, Tiangong Ultra, which is developed by X-Humanoid in Beijing.
'Dear You,' a migration tale shot in a southern Chinese dialect, gets buzz abroad
BANGKOK (AP) — "Dear You," a film shot in a southern Chinese dialect, has become a hit in China. Now it is heading overseas. The move highlights the Teochew immigrant community in Bangkok, opening a window into the history of Chinese migration to Southeast Asia. Made on a low budget with mostly unknown actors, the film has been the second-biggest grossing film at the Chinese box office this year. It has been released in several countries and will be shown in the U.S. next month. The film's success aligns with China's goal of promoting its culture globally.
Washington Post ordered to reinstate Black opinion writer fired after Charlie Kirk posts
An arbitrator has ordered The Washington Post to reinstate a Black opinion writer fired over social media posts about violent white men following last year’s killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. In a ruling, Sarah Miller Espinosa wrote that the newspaper did not have sufficient cause to terminate Karen Attiah. Espinosa’s ruling calls for The Post to award Attiah full back pay and lost benefits. Kirk was shot and killed Sept. 10 during a public appearance at a Utah college. The Post accused Attiah of “gross misconduct.” Still, Espinosa ruled the newspaper failed to establish that and “did not have good and sufficient cause to terminate” Attiah's employment.
Roger Federer is coming back to play at the US Open, but not interested in coming back to pro tennis
NEW YORK (AP) — Roger Federer is actually nervous about his tennis. The man who won five straight U.S. Open championships during the height of his dominance of the sport is set to play again in Arthur Ashe Stadium on Tuesday night for the first time since 2019. And he’s not quite sure how the game that perhaps nobody ever made look more elegant will appear now. It’s only one set of singles in an exhibition against Andy Roddick and one set of doubles with John McEnroe against Roddick and Andre Agassi. The winner of 20 Grand Slam singles titles should be fine for those, but he isn't interested in a true tennis comeback.
‘Spider-Man’ tops box office in fourth weekend; ‘The Odyssey’ becomes Nolan’s highest-grossing film
"Spider-Man: Brand New Day" continues to dominate the box office, holding the top spot for the fourth weekend. It added $39 million from 4,006 theaters in the U.S. and Canada, bringing its North American total to over $854.9 million. This puts it on track to surpass "Avengers: Endgame" as the second highest-grossing domestic release ever. "The Odyssey" became Christopher Nolan's highest-grossing film, adding $19.5 million domestically and $68 million internationally. Meanwhile, "Insidious: Out of the Further" earned $25.3 million, and "Mutiny," starring Jason Statham, opened with $7.5 million. The summer box office has reached $4.4 billion in North America.
