Paddington stage musical wins big with 7 trophies at London's Olivier Awards
LONDON (AP) — "Paddington The Musical” has won big at London's Olivier Awards, winning seven trophies including best new musical. The awards, akin to Broadway's Tonys, celebrate theater, opera, and dance. Based on Michael Bond's beloved stories, the musical opened in November and has charmed audiences with its blend of live acting and puppetry to bring the central character alive. James Hameed and Arti Shah jointly won best actor for their portrayal of Paddington. The show also took home awards for supporting performers, director, and design. Rachel Zegler was named best actress in a musical for “Evita” and Rosamund Pike won best actress in a play for “Inter Alia.”
‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ rockets to $629 million worldwide at the box office
“The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” is dominating the box office in its second weekend. Universal and Illumination's sequel added $69 million from 4,284 theaters in the U.S. and Canada. Its domestic total now stands at $308.1 million, with a global total of $629 million. The figures mark a 48% drop from its first weekend, which is modest for a blockbuster. The sequel cost $110 million to produce and is being considered a hit despite not matching the first film's initial success. Meanwhile, Universal's “You, Me & Tuscany” debuted in fourth place with $8 million. The romantic comedy starring Halle Bailey and Regé-Jean Page is getting mixed reviews but positive audience feedback.
Sergio Garcia breaks driver in frustration, then gets code-of-conduct warning, a first at Masters
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Sergio Garcia broke his driver on No. 2 at Augusta National after an outburst on the tee box and was issued a code-of-conduct warning, a first at the Masters. Garcia lost it on the second tee box after an opening bogey, slamming his club into the turf twice, then took a swipe at a table with a green cooler on it. That left the head of his driver dangling from the shaft, and Garcia reached over and yanked it off completely. According to club officials, Geoff Yang in his role as chairman of the competitions committee spoke to Garcia on the fourth tee and issued the code-of-conduct warning.
A 9-year-old was found locked in a van since 2024, malnourished and unable to walk
PARIS (AP) — A 9-year-old boy has been rescued from his father's utility van in eastern France, where he was locked up for a year and a half. The local prosecutor said the child was found malnourished and unable to walk. Police were alerted by a neighbor on Monday in the village of Hagenbach. The boy was discovered naked and covered by a blanket on a mound of trash. His father claimed he put the child in the van to protect him from being sent to a psychiatric hospital. Both the father and his partner are facing preliminary charges.
Cowboys defensive back Markquese Bell is arrested on drug possession charges near Dallas
McKINNEY, Texas (AP) — Police say Dallas Cowboys defensive back Markquese Bell has been arrested on drug possession charges in the Dallas area. Police in the suburb of Prosper say an officer could smell marijuana after Bell was pulled over on Friday night. A search of his vehicle uncovered less than 2 ounces of marijuana and a THC electronic cigarette. He was taken into custody on charges of possession of marijuana and a controlled substance. A spokesman for the Cowboys says the club is aware of the arrest and declined to comment further. The 27-year-old Bell joined Dallas as an undrafted free agent in 2022.
FAA investigates close call on LAX taxiway just weeks after LaGuardia runway crash
A Frontier Airlines jet nearly collided with two trucks that crossed in front of it Wednesday night at Los Angeles International Airport. But unlike last month’s deadly crash in New York while a plane was landing, this incident happened on a taxiway while the plane was moving slowly and no one was hurt. The Frontier pilot was alarmed and used an expletive as he told the tower he had to slam on the brakes to avoid a collision. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating what happened. Aviation safety expert Steve Arroyo said close calls like the one in Los Angeles happen every day but usually don't get attention because a collision is avoided.
Stefano Gabbana has stepped down as Dolce & Gabbana chairman but will keep a creative role
MILAN (AP) — Stefano Gabbana has stepped down as chairman of the fashion house that he co-founded with Domenico Dolce. The company said on Friday that Gabbana’s resignation from oversight roles was effective Jan. 1. The company called it “a natural evolution of its organizational structure and governance.’’ The statement said Gabbana, 63, will continue in his creative role at the company.
Masters gnomes a hot commodity at Augusta National amid speculation this is final year of production
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Patrons are lining up at Augusta National to secure a limited edition Masters gnome. This year marks the 10th and possibly final year of the gnome's release, making it highly sought after. Each year's gnome is unique, and this year's edition features the gnome in golf attire and with a Masters-themed cup. With only about 1,000 available daily, they have been selling out quickly and have become valuable on resale markets. Prices on eBay and Facebook Marketplace have soared, with some gnomes listed for up to $800. Speculation about this being the last edition has fueled demand. Many buyers have considered reselling them for the potential profit.
Picture this: A raffle offers a Picasso for 100 euros to fund Alzheimer’s research
PARIS (AP) — A raffle in France offers the chance to win a Picasso portrait for a 100-euro ticket. Proceeds will support Alzheimer's research. The draw takes place Tuesday at Christie's auction house in Paris. The event is organized by the Alzheimer Research Foundation, a leading private financier of Alzheimer-related research in France. The painting, "Tête de Femme," was created by Picasso in 1941. Previous raffles in 2013 and 2020 raised over 10 million euros for cultural and humanitarian causes. The number of tickets is capped at 120,000, and the draw will be broadcast online.
Dodgers great Davey Lopes, an infield fixture and record-setting base stealer, dies at 80
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Davey Lopes, a longtime Los Angeles Dodgers infielder and premier base stealer, has died. He was 80. The Dodgers say they learned of his death on Wednesday from his former wife, Lin Lopes. Lopes was a four-time All-Star during his 10 years with the Dodgers, playing in four World Series and winning the 1981 championship. He holds the franchise record for most games played at second base and was known for his base-stealing prowess, with 418 steals for the Dodgers. After his playing career, Lopes managed the Milwaukee Brewers and coached for several teams, winning another World Series with the Phillies.
