Disney opens World of Frozen in Paris as new CEO showcases the empire that made him
CHESSY, France (AP) — On Sunday, Walt Disney Studios Park became Disney Adventure World as part of a 2 billion euro expansion. “World of Frozen" is the centerpiece. The new area also adds a lagoon, a Nordic-style village and a talking robotic snowman. Guests also get a Frozen Ever After boat ride and meet Anna and Elsa. The wider relaunch adds a central lake, a “Tangled” attraction, new dining spots and a night show with drones. Disney says most of the park has been rebuilt. Both “Frozen” and “Tangled” are rooted in European folklore.
A stranded whale in Germany’s Baltic Sea weakens as hopes of its return to the Atlantic fade
BERLIN (AP) — A stranded humpback whale in Germany’s Baltic Sea looks weaker, and experts fear it won't be able to find its way back to the Atlantic. On Sunday, officials set up a 500-meter restricted zone so the whale could rest and try to free itself. Mecklenburg-Pomerania environment minister Till Backhaus says the whale seems sick and may have injuries from a fishing net. Rescuers have already freed it several times this week with boats and even an excavator, but it kept getting stranded. Scientists now report low activity and slower breathing.
US team with big World Cup dreams gets a dressing down from Belgium
ATLANTA (AP) — Belgium gave a dressing down to a U.S. team with big World Cup dreams. The Americans allowed five straight goals in a deflating 5-2 loss to the Red Devils in Saturday night’s friendly. The U.S. had not lost a home game by three goals in which it scored the opening goal since an 8-1 defeat to England in 1959, according to Opta. U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino says: “We cannot arrive with the wrong idea of that we are so good, we are so handsome, we are so well dressed and we are Americans."
Nestlé says 413,793 KitKat candy bars stolen en route from Italy to Poland
GENEVA (AP) — Nestlé says thieves have stolen a huge shipment of KitKat bars from a truck heading from Italy to Poland. On Friday, the company said the vehicle and its cargo still have not been found. The bars disappeared last week while moving between production and distribution sites. Nestlé says the load totals about 12 tons, or more than 400,000 bars. The company says the bars were meant for sale across Europe. Nestlé warns they could show up in unofficial markets. It says each bar has a batch code. Shoppers and retailers can scan codes and report matches.
First submarine named after Massachusetts joins the Navy fleet
BOSTON (AP) — The USS Massachusetts has joined the Navy fleet. Saturday's commissioning ceremony made the submarine the first named after the Bay State. The Navy says the nuclear-powered sub has enhanced stealth, sophisticated surveillance capabilities and special warfare enhancements. It cost $2.8 billion and was christened on May 6, 2023, by the ship’s sponsor, Sheryl Sandberg, the former COO of Meta. The sub’s commanding officer did not say where the sub is headed. A U.S. submarine sank an Iranian warship off the coast of Sri Lanka earlier this month in the war with Iran.
Another PlayStation price hike means the gaming console will cost 30% more than it did last year
The price of a PlayStation is going up by another $100, the second time in less than a year that Sony has upped the price tag on its popular gaming console. Global trade has been upended by U.S. tariffs imposed on all of the nation’s trading partners and Sony bumped up the price for the PlayStation by $50 just last August. The war in Iran has created a massive bottleneck of energy and manufacturing supplies, creating more price pressures for everyday goods, including electronics. By the end of next week, the cost of a Sony PlayStation will be about about 30% more than it was at this time last year.
Secret Service agent assigned to Jill Biden accidentally shoots himself in leg at airport
Authorities say a U.S. Secret Service agent assigned to protect former first lady Jill Biden accidentally shot himself in the leg at Philadelphia International Airport. A spokesman for the Secret Service says Biden was not in the area when the agent was injured during a “negligent discharge” of his gun. A police spokeswoman says initial reports indicate the agent was traveling in an unmarked car when he accidentally fired his gun shortly before 9 a.m. He was hospitalized in stable condition. Airport operations were not affected.
A 14-year-old running for governor is the first teen to get on Vermont's general election ballot
STOWE, Vt. (AP) — Another teen is running for governor of Vermont, and this time, he'll be on the general election ballot. In 2018, an eighth-grader sought the Democratic nomination for governor but finished last in a four-way primary. Now, 14-year-old Dean Roy is the candidate, and he secured his spot on the ballot by creating the Freedom and Unity Party. Both were able to run because the state constitution sets no minimum age for gubernatorial candidates. Roy says he doesn't expect to win but he wants to start a movement and get more young people involved in changing the world.
March Madness: An eighth grader from Pittsburgh is all alone with a perfect women's NCAA bracket
The only person left out of millions who entered men's and women's NCAA tournament brackets in ESPN's competition is an eighth-grader from suburban Pittsburgh. His name is Otto Schellhammer, and you can bet the 14-year-old is enjoying his one shining moment. He is 48-0 through the first weekend of the women's tournament, and he'll try to push it to 56-0 when the Sweet 16 takes place on Friday and Saturday. The record for ESPN's competition is 57-0. The exact odds of a perfect bracket are steep: Most mathematicians put the number at around 1 in 28 billion.
Bill Maher will win the Kennedy Center's Mark Twain humor prize following White House denial
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Kennedy Center says Bill Maher will win the prestigious Mark Twain humor prize. The center made the announcement Thursday, less than a week after the White House forcefully denied the award would go to the comedian, who has had a hot-and-cold relationship with President Donald Trump. A Trump administration official says the situation changed after further conversations between the Kennedy Center and event organizers. Maher says he just had the award explained to him and it’s like an Emmy, except he wins. The Kennedy Center has presented the award since 1998 to recognize those who've made significant contributions to humor and commentary. Conan O’Brien won last year.
