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.
Humpback whale freed by rescuers in Baltic Sea has become stranded again
BERLIN (AP) — A humpback whale has become stranded again in the Baltic Sea after rescuers in Germany help it escape earlier in the week. Greenpeace on Saturday said the whale is stuck on a sandbank near Wismar, according to dpa. Earlier in the week, crews try several tactics near Timmendorfer Strand. Boats were used to create waves in an attempt to push it toward deeper water. An excavator later dug a channel, and the whale swam free overnight. But it then headed east instead of toward the North Sea. Experts say humpbacks do not belong in the Baltic Sea and that it won't be able to survive there long-term.
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.
In the wake of US social media verdicts, a look at what limits other countries have imposed for kids
Dual jury verdicts this week have validated longstanding concerns about the dangers of social media for young people. But the U.S. lacks federal regulation that meaningfully addresses these harms. Other countries, meanwhile, have implemented a bevy of restrictions on children’s online activities, ranging from outright social media bans to to requiring younger teens to link their accounts to a parent’s. In 2024, Australia became the first country to kick kids under 16 off social media and other countries have followed suit.
Washington’s cherry blossoms hit peak bloom, sending a fleeting burst of pink across the capital
Washington’s cherry blossoms have reached peak bloom, and the city’s spring rush is in full swing. The National Park Service says the flowering blooms hit their peak on Thursday, meaning 70% of the Yoshino Cherry blossoms are open. The park service says this timing is typical for late March and early April. The blooms last only a few days. Cool, calm weather helps them stay, but rain, wind or heat can strip petals fast. The National Cherry Blossom Festival runs for four weeks, with music and Japanese cultural events. The Tidal Basin is where most of the trees are located, but parts of it are fenced off for seawall repairs.
