Longest line at Philly airport? Cheesesteaks, not security
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Travelers passing through Philadelphia International Airport may have expected long security lines, but the longest line was made of cheesesteaks. The airport set a Guinness World Record with 1,291 sandwiches lined up in the walkway between Terminals B and C to mark National Cheesesteak Day. This record far surpasses the previous benchmark of 500. The sandwiches were pieced together assembly-line style before they were distributed to travelers, airport workers and Transportation Security Administration staff. Guinness adjudicator Michael Empric says all food must be consumed or donated. Organizers say the event celebrated the cheesesteak’s long-standing place in Philadelphia’s culinary identity.
A pink veil across the fields: Thousands flock to Greece’s peach blossoms
VERIA, Greece (AP) — A veil of blossoming trees unfolds each spring across the plains of Greece’s largest peach-producing region. Veria Tourism Club President Gianna Pilitsidou says the plain stretching 170 square kilometers turns completely pink. The trees create a spectacular sight that attracts visitors every year. The visiting tree enthusiasts are mostly from Greece but increasingly also come from around Europe. Over two weekends, thousands of visitors wander among the blooming peach trees around Veria. The northern city is located 72 kilometers west of Greece’s second largest city, Thessaloniki. The events aim to promote the region and support farmers involved in peach production.
Epic Games lays off more than 1,000 amid slowing Fortnite engagement
Fortnite publisher Epic Games said Tuesday it is laying off 1,000 employees to save money as it grapples with industry-wide and company-specific challenges. The North Carolina video game publisher said in a memo to employees that the job cuts are not related to AI. Rather, they stem from industry-wide challenges such as slower growth, weaker spending, and tougher cost economics. Games like Fortnite are also competing for people's attention with social media and other forms of online entertainment.
Rescuers try to refloat a stranded humpback whale in Germany’s Baltic Sea
BERLIN (AP) — Rescue teams in northern Germany are working to refloat a humpback whale stranded in shallow water in the Baltic Sea. Experts gathered at Timmendorfer Strand beach on Tuesday after a midnight high tide failed to lift the animal free. German news agency dpa reports crews were trying to find ways to pull the whale back into deeper water. Rescuers had already tried on Monday afternoon with police boats and inflatable boats. Firefighters also use drones to help guide the effort. Sea Shepherd’s Carsten Mannheimer says the whale is alive and keeps breathing and making sounds. Experts think it is a young male.
OnlyFans owner Leonid Radvinsky dies of cancer at 43
Leonid Radvinsky, the billionaire owner of adult content platform OnlyFans, has died at age 43. A company spokesperson said he died “peacefully after a long battle with cancer." Radvinsky transformed the pornography industry with OnlyFans’ subscription-based model after acquiring a majority stake in the platform in 2018. Born in Ukraine, Radvinsky grew up in Chicago and studied economics at Northwestern University, where he graduated as his class valedictorian. In addition to his entrepreneurial work, he also supported several philanthropic organizations. Little is known about Radvinsky’s personal life and he seldom spoke publicly, but his family has requested privacy via a company spokesperson.
Now a true pop star, Miley Cyrus returns to her 'Hannah Montana' roots to fete anniversary special
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Miley Cyrus went back to her “Hannah Montana” blond mane and to her roots as Miley Stewart, the tween with a big secret. The now real-life pop star reunited Monday evening with cast members in Los Angeles to celebrate the “Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special.” The original show was launched in 2006 on the Disney Channel. In it, middle-schooler Miley led a double life as a pop singer. Cyrus is now 33 and reflected to The Associated Press how the milestone has given her a new perspective on the show that launched her stardom. The anniversary special began streaming Tuesday on Disney+ and Hulu.
NHL mourns the death of Minnesota Wild reporter Jessi Pierce and her 3 children from a house fire
The National Hockey League is morning the death of 37-year-old Minnesota Wild reporter Jessi Pierce and her three children from a weekend house fire. Firefighters in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, responded to 911 calls from neighbors who saw flames coming through the roof. An adult, three children and a dog were found dead inside the home. Pierce covered the Wild for NHL.com and was a prominent podcaster among several other roles she held in sports media. Pierce's husband and the father of their children ages 8, 6 and 4 was out of town on a work trip at the time.
Chappell Roan pushes back after soccer star Jorginho alleges his daughter was mistreated
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Chappell Roan pushes back after a Brazilian soccer player says a guard mistreated his young daughter at a hotel. Jorginho says his 11-year-old recognized Roan at breakfast in São Paulo and got excited. He says she stayed quiet and asked for nothing. He says a security guard then spoke aggressively to his wife and child. On Instagram, Roan says the guard is not her personal security. She says she never saw a woman and child. The Rio mayor also jumps in and criticizes Roan publicly.
'Saturday Night Live UK' aims to take a comedy hit across the pond. The first verdicts are in
LONDON (AP) — A British version of “Saturday Night Live” has debuted to largely positive reviews. The first episode of “SNL UK” was hosted by Tina Fey, a veteran of the American show, and stuck closely in format to the U.S. original. It mixed topical sketches, fake ads and a “Weekend Update” segment, as well as performances by musical guest Wet Leg. British reviewers expressed surprise that it was, largely, pretty funny. The Telegraph newspaper called it “shockingly competent” and “occasionally hilarious.” Many critics praised the cast of up-and-coming UK comedy talent. The series runs for eight episodes on Sky One and NOW.
Box Office: ‘Project Hail Mary’ blasts off with $80.5 million, a best for Amazon MGM, and the year
Studio estimates on Sunday say Amazon MGM's “Project Hail Mary” has topped the North American box office charts with $80.5 million in ticket sales. It's the biggest opening for the studio and the second biggest ever for a non-franchise film, behind only “Oppenheimer.” The film was directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller and stars Ryan Gosling. Hollywood’s other big new opener, “Ready or Not 2: Here I Come,” a Searchlight release, has landed in a distant fourth, behind Disney and Pixar’s “Hoppers” and the Bollywood sequel “Dhurandhar: The Revenge.” Universal’s Colleen Hoover adaptation “Reminders of Him” has rounded out the top five.
