A new exhibit shows plaster casts of Pompeii victims frozen at the time of death
POMPEII, Italy (AP) — A new permanent exhibition has opened in Pompeii that shows plaster casts of people killed in the Mount Vesuvius eruption, frozen in their final moments. On Thursday, curators put 22 casts on public display for the first time. Experts call them “imprints of pain.” They were created by pouring plaster into spaces left in hardened ash. Director Gabriel Zuchtriegel says the goal is dignity and understanding. Archaeologist Silvia Martina Bertesago says modern tests reveal age, sex, disease, and diet.
Celebrity chef René Redzepi resigns from iconic Danish restaurant Noma after abuse allegations
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — René Redzepi has stepped down from his post at the iconic Danish restaurant Noma following allegations of abuse and assault at the Copenhagen landmark. The restaurant founder and celebrity chef has been dogged for years by reports of staff mistreatment and yearslong use of unpaid interns to fuel the pricy restaurant. Noma has been ranked first on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants List five times. The criticism came to a head recently on social media and in the New York Times. Sponsors have pulled funding for the Southern California residency. The chef did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
That purple Hawaii vacation lei likely came from Thailand, and some lawmakers want to change that
HONOLULU (AP) — Flower garlands are synonymous with Hawaii. But the purple orchid lei that adorn the necks of tourists often aren't made in the Aloha State. Instead, they are imported from Thailand. Some Hawaii lawmakers think the state should be doing more to help the producers of lei made with locally grown, fragrant flowers. Ideas include labeling requirements that would identify Hawaii-made lei and a prohibition on state agencies buying imported ones. Some lei-sellers worry that the restrictions could boost prices to the point that Hawaii residents can't afford the lei that are so important to the state's culture.
‘Ship of Gold’ treasure hunter released from prison, but 500 gold coins remain unaccounted for
A former deep-sea treasure hunter who spent more than a decade in prison after refusing to disclose the whereabouts of missing gold coins is now free. Federal records show Ohio-born research scientist Tommy Thompson was released from prison last Wednesday. Thompson made one of the great finds in American history in 1988 when he found what was known as the Ship of Gold off the coast of South Carolina. The wreckage held thousands of pounds of sunken treasure that sat at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean for more than 150 years. A dispute over missing gold coins landed Thompson in prison while he contended he didn’t know their whereabouts.
Italy buys Caravaggio painting for about $35 million, one of its largest payouts for a single work
ROME (AP) — Italy's Culture Ministry says the government has bought a rare portrait by baroque painter Caravaggio for 30 million euros, one of the largest investments ever for a single artwork. The portrait, painted around 1598 and attributed to Caravaggio in 1963, depicts Maffeo Barberini, a nobleman who later became Pope Urban VIII. The painting was acquired from a private collection by the Italian state after over a year of negotiations, and will now enter Rome’s Palazzo Barberini permanent collection. The Portrait of Monsignor Maffeo Barberini depicts the future pope in his 30s, dressed as a cleric of the Apostolic Chamber, at a crucial moment in his rise to power.
Google overhauls its Maps app, adding in more AI features to help people get around
Google Maps will depend more heavily on artificial intelligence to help people figure out where they want to go and the best way to get there as part of a major redesign unveiled Thursday. The overhaul driven by Google’s Gemini technology will introduce two AI features into a digital mapping service used by more than 2 billion people worldwide. One tool called Ask Maps will expand upon conversational abilities that Google brought to the service last November answer users looking for suggestions on where to go to get things done. The other called Immersive Navigation will feature 3D renderings of places to help users get their bearings as they drive.
Wildflowers are blooming in the driest place in North America — but not for long
DEATH VALLEY, Calif. (AP) — Visitors are flocking to Death Valley National Park in California and Nevada to take in a rare phenomenon known as a superbloom. Thousands of long-dormant flowers have popped through the desert soil, transforming the barren landscape in carpets of gold. The bloom is a result of steady rain in the fall and winter, and experts don't expect the blooms to last long. Ecologists say the superbloom, though not a real scientific term, proves that there is life in the desert, even in a place known for death.
NBA cancels the Atlanta Hawks' plans to celebrate the strip club Magic City
The NBA has called off the Atlanta Hawks’ plans for a night celebrating the city’s Magic City adult entertainment club. The league says it did so because of “concerns” from many across the NBA. Atlanta announced the plan last month, saying the team would pay tribute to an “iconic cultural institution” with food, music and exclusive merchandise. Luke Kornet of the San Antonio Spurs spoke out about the idea of promoting a strip club and urged the parties involved to reconsider. And the league evidently heard the same messaging from others. The tribute had been scheduled for next Monday during a game against Orlando.
Fox News apologizes for showing old video of a hatless Donald Trump at a dignified transfer ceremony
Fox News has apologized for airing old video of a hatless President Donald Trump at a dignified transfer ceremony as part of its coverage. In polarized times, online critics suggested that Fox was trying to make Trump look better with pictures that suggested he wasn't wearing a baseball cap on Saturday during the ceremony for the return of the remains of six service members killed in the Middle East war. Fox insisted this wasn't so, that a staff member inadvertently called up video of an old ceremony when preparing the story. Fox News anchor Johnny “Joey” Jones said he believed it was an honest mistake, “but that doesn't mean it was an acceptable one.”
Pixar’s ‘Hoppers’ bounds to No. 1 as Warner Bros.' ‘The Bride!’ is on life support
Disney and Pixar’s new film “Hoppers” is leading the North American box office with a strong debut, while Warner Bros.’ “The Bride!” is stumbling. Studio estimates on Sunday show “Hoppers” made $46 million in its first weekend domestically and $88 million globally after adding in international receipts. In the same weekend, “The Bride!” opened with about $7.3 million in North America and a total of $13.6 million globally, despite a big production budget. “Hoppers” is a boost for original Pixar movies after “Elio” failed to connect with audiences. Reviews and audience scores also favor “Hoppers.” Meanwhile “The Bride!” is collecting mixed reactions from audiences and critics.
