WEATHER ALERT

Celebrities

This image shows a Truffle Sazerac cocktail. Looking to create a bit of winter luxury when tending bar at home this holiday season? London's top cocktail-makers have some tips. Salvatore Calabrese of the cocktail bar Velvet says to start with the right glassware. He says that if the glass looks elegant, the atmosphere is already festive. Then think about the ice, which he says is like heat for cooking. You want the drink to dilute just right, so you don't want cracked or crushed ice. Other experts suggest decorating the glasses and coming up with some beautiful and tasty garnishes. Consider a garnish platter that lets guests choose which ones they want. (AP Photo/Louise Dixon)

Holiday advice for home bartenders, plus 4 festive cocktails

Louise Dixon, The Associated Press 5 minute read Monday, Dec. 19, 2022

LONDON (AP) — Looking to create a bit of winter luxury when tending bar at home this holiday season? London's top cocktail-makers have some tips.

“Christmas is a special time when you want to join with friends and family. And sometimes, the centerpiece of any happiness is to have a good drink,” says Salvatore Calabrese, an Italian-born drinks expert and author who has been making cocktails at top hotels, bars and private clubs for over 40 years.

Currently at the cocktail bar Velvet, at London’s five-star Corinthia hotel, Calabrese goes by the nickname “The Maestro.”

And The Maestro’s advice?

Advertisement

Advertise With Us

Weather

WEATHER ALERT This afternoon: Risk of thunderstorms 32°c Risk of thunderstorms This evening: Risk of thunderstorms 30°c Risk of thunderstorms

Winnipeg MB
27°C, A few clouds

Full Forecast

Germany’s Merkel offers her thoughts on Wagner’s Ring cycle

The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Germany’s Merkel offers her thoughts on Wagner’s Ring cycle

The Associated Press 2 minute read Monday, Dec. 19, 2022

BERLIN (AP) — Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, a longtime opera fan, is offering her thoughts on Richard Wagner's Ring cycle — the latest in a series of sporadic and sometimes idiosyncratic appearances since she left office a year ago.

Merkel joined a former federal court judge, Thomas Fischer, to reflect on “greed," “revenge” and “vanity” in Wagner's epic and lengthy creation in a three-part special edition of a crime-themed audio podcast for public broadcaster SWR that went online Sunday.

The 68-year-old center-right politician, who led Germany for 16 years, said that the cycle “is so universally applicable to humanity that you keep finding things, from family life to political life, that keep happening among us humans.”

She said that “when you meet real people, there are situations where you remember — I won't name any names, but certain themes occur to you.”

Read
Monday, Dec. 19, 2022

FILE - Angela Merkel, former German Chancellor, and husband Joachim Sauer arrive for the opening of the Bayreuth Richard Wagner Festival at the Festspielhaus on the Gruener Huegel in Bayreuth, Germany, July 25, 2022. Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, a longtime opera buff, is offering her thoughts on Richard Wagner's Ring cycle in a new podcast, the latest in a series of sporadic appearances since she left office a year ago. (Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/dpa via AP, File)
FILE - Angela Merkel, former German Chancellor, and husband Joachim Sauer arrive for the opening of the Bayreuth Richard Wagner Festival at the Festspielhaus on the Gruener Huegel in Bayreuth, Germany, July 25, 2022. Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, a longtime opera buff, is offering her thoughts on Richard Wagner's Ring cycle in a new podcast, the latest in a series of sporadic appearances since she left office a year ago. (Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/dpa via AP, File)

World Cup final ends just in time for Fox’s NFL coverage

Joe Reedy, The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

World Cup final ends just in time for Fox’s NFL coverage

Joe Reedy, The Associated Press 2 minute read Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022

Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi provided more drama leading up to Sunday's early NFL games on Fox than Howie Long and Terry Bradshaw.

Sunday's World Cup final in Qatar between Argentina and France went to extra time and penalty kicks, bumping Fox's “NFL Sunday” pregame show off the air. The fútbol ended just in time for Americans to catch kickoff for the football at 1 p.m. EST.

Argentina's Gonzalo Montiel knocked in the decisive penalty kick at 12:55 p.m. That gave Fox a couple of minutes to capture Argentina's celebration and allowed commentators some time to provide thoughts before the network switched to NFL.

At the beginning of extra time, Fox said via social media that the trophy ceremony would air on FS1. A graphic on Fox immediately after the match ended also told viewers to switch to FS1.

Read
Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022

Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates his side's their goal as France's goalkeeper Hugo Lloris stands during the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates his side's their goal as France's goalkeeper Hugo Lloris stands during the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

‘Avatar 2’ makes waves with $134 million domestic debut

Lindsey Bahr, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

‘Avatar 2’ makes waves with $134 million domestic debut

Lindsey Bahr, The Associated Press 5 minute read Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022

“ Avatar: The Way of Water ” didn’t make quite as big of a splash as many assumed it would, but James Cameron’s big budget spectacle still helped breathe life into the box office this weekend. The sequel earned $134 million from North American theaters and $300.5 million internationally for a $434.5 million global debut, according to studio estimates on Sunday.

It tied with “The Batman” as the fourth highest domestic debut of the year, behind “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” ( $187.4 million in May ), “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” ( $181 million in November ) and “Thor: Love and Thunder” ($144.2 million in July).

Expectations were enormous for “Avatar 2,” which carried a reported price tag of over $350 million, the pressure of following up the highest grossing film of all time (thanks in part to various re-releases) over a decade later and the daunting task of propping up an exhibition business that’s still far from normal. Everything “Avatar” is oversized, though: the Na’vi characters, the runtime (a staggering three hours and 12 minutes), the technical advancements and the release strategy from 20th Century Studios and The Walt Disney Co.

Going into the weekend many were expecting a domestic debut of at least $150 million. Some even said $175 or higher, but tracking has also not been as reliable a metric during the pandemic.

Read
Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022

Zoe Saldana arrives at the U.S. premiere of "Avatar: The Way of Water," Monday, Dec. 12, 2022, at Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Zoe Saldana arrives at the U.S. premiere of

Cecily Strong leaves Saturday Night Live after 11 seasons

The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Cecily Strong leaves Saturday Night Live after 11 seasons

The Associated Press 2 minute read Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022

After 11 seasons, Cecily Strong has said farewell to “Saturday Night Live."

A few hours before the last episode of the season Saturday, the TV show’s Instagram account posted a cue card saying, “we’ll miss you, Cecily.” The caption read “Tonight we send off one of the best to ever do it.”

A two-time Emmy nominee for her work on the show, Strong was known for characters like the Girl You Wish You Hadn’t Started a Conversation With At a Party and impressions of people like Fox News host Judge Jeanine Pirro and U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green.

During Saturday’s show, she broke character as Michael Che’s drug-addicted neighbor Cathy Anne on Weekend Update to give a personal statement.

Read
Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022

Cecily Strong arrives at the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards on Sept. 19, 2021, at L.A. Live in Los Angeles. After 11 seasons, Cecily Strong has said farewell to Saturday Night Live. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Cecily Strong arrives at the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards on Sept. 19, 2021, at L.A. Live in Los Angeles. After 11 seasons, Cecily Strong has said farewell to Saturday Night Live. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Paid-by-the-page ebook subscription model a boon for genre writers

Nicole Thompson, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

Paid-by-the-page ebook subscription model a boon for genre writers

Nicole Thompson, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022

Though her knitwear patterns had previously been published in books and magazines, Reagan Davis was ready to spin a different kind of yarn.

A longtime fan of the cozy mystery — wholesome whodunits more in the vein of Agatha Christie than John Grisham — the Ontario-based Davis decided to self-publish the first three books in her "Knitorious Murder Mysteries" series.

Three years and 12 entries later, the series has found an audience, mostly through Kindle Unlimited (KU), a subscription service that offers readers access to hundreds of thousands of ebooks for $10 per month.

"Cozy mystery readers are enthusiastic readers. They read a lot," Davis, who writes under a pseudonym, said. "It's not at all a competitive community. My fellow cozy authors, we all support each other, we all promote each other's books, because we all appeal to the same people."

Read
Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022

The Kindle Oasis e-reader is displayed in New York, Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017. Amazon is now offering Kindle Unlimited (KU), a subscription service that offers readers access to hundreds of thousands of ebooks for $10 per month. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Mark Lennihan
The Kindle Oasis e-reader is displayed in New York, Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017. Amazon is now offering Kindle Unlimited (KU), a subscription service that offers readers access to hundreds of thousands of ebooks for $10 per month. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Mark Lennihan

Oppenheimer wrongly stripped of security clearance, US says

Associated Press, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Oppenheimer wrongly stripped of security clearance, US says

Associated Press, The Associated Press 3 minute read Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration has reversed a decades-old decision to revoke the security clearance of Robert Oppenheimer, the physicist called the father of the atomic bomb for his leading role in World War II’s Manhattan Project.

U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said the 1954 decision by the Atomic Energy Commission was made using a “flawed process" that violated the commission’s own regulations.

“As time has passed, more evidence has come to light of the bias and unfairness of the process that Dr. Oppenheimer was subjected to while the evidence of his loyalty and love of country have only been further affirmed," Granholm said in a statement on Friday.

Oppenheimer, who died in 1967, led the Manhattan Project, which developed the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II. The theoretical physicist was later accused of having communist sympathies and his security clearance was revoked following a four-week, closed-door hearing.

Read
Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022

This image released by Universal Pictures shows Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer in a scene from the film "Oppenheimer," written and directed by Christopher Nolan. (Universal Pictures via AP)
This image released by Universal Pictures shows Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer in a scene from the film

How a Marvel Comics artist helped give Newfoundland its own psychedelic superhero

Sarah Smellie, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

How a Marvel Comics artist helped give Newfoundland its own psychedelic superhero

Sarah Smellie, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - When Marvel Comics artist Danny Bulanadi died last month, fans around the world took to social media to share his illustrations of well-known and well-muscled characters including Captain America, the Fantastic Four and the Transformers.

But in Canada’s easternmost province, the Bulanadi drawings shared by fans were of a mysterious cloaked figure who sought oneness with the universe instead of fist-slinging battles.

Captain Newfoundland was the province’s very own superhero, first brought to life by Bulanadi more than 40 years ago. When Bulanadi died in San Francisco on Nov. 3 at the age of 76, he was working on new Captain Newfoundland material for the first time in decades, said Jesse Stirling, whose father and grandfather came up with the idea for Captain Newfoundland.

“So we have all these half-finished panels and artwork of Captain Newfoundland, which we might release one day,” Stirling said in a recent interview. “The Captain lives on, but it will never be the same without Danny Bulanadi.”

Read
Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022

The character Captain Newfoundland is seen in a photograph of a frame from a comic published in the Newfoundland Herald magazine, in St. John's, Friday, Dec. 16, 2022. Captain Newfoundland was the province’s very own superhero, first brought to life by Marvel Comics artist Danny Bulanadi more than 40 years ago. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sarah Smellie
The character Captain Newfoundland is seen in a photograph of a frame from a comic published in the Newfoundland Herald magazine, in St. John's, Friday, Dec. 16, 2022. Captain Newfoundland was the province’s very own superhero, first brought to life by Marvel Comics artist Danny Bulanadi more than 40 years ago. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sarah Smellie

‘Something to Talk About’ songwriter Shirley Eikhard dies

Mark Kennedy, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

‘Something to Talk About’ songwriter Shirley Eikhard dies

Mark Kennedy, The Associated Press 3 minute read Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022

NEW YORK (AP) — Shirley Eikhard, the singer-songwriter who supplied songs for Cher, Emmylou Harris, Anne Murray, Chet Atkins and found lasting fame penning Bonnie Raitt‘s Grammy-winning 1991 hit “Something to Talk About,” has died. She was 67.

Eikhard died Thursday at Headwaters Health Care Centre in Orangeville, Ontario, due to complications from cancer, said publicist Eric Alper.

The blues-rock smash hit “Something to Talk About” was written in 1985 and Eikhard had offered it to Murray and other artists, who all declined to record it. Then years later Raitt left a message on Eikhard’s phone saying she she’d just recorded it. Raitt said later she’d discovered the song on a demo Eikhard had sent and admired it.

The song was the first single from Raitt’s 1991 album “Luck of the Draw” and spent 20 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 5. It would win Raitt the best pop vocal performance at the 1992 Grammy Awards and was also nominated in the record of the year category.

Read
Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022

This undated photo provided by Eric Alper shows Shirley Eikhard. The singer-songwriter who supplied songs for Cher, Emmylou Harris, Anne Murray, Chet Atkins and found lasting fame penning Bonnie Raitt‘s Grammy-winning 1991 hit “Something to Talk About,” has died. She was 67. Eikhard died Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022 at Headwaters Health Care Centre in Orangeville, Ontario, due to complications from cancer, said publicist Eric Alper. (Courtesy of Eric Alper via AP)
This undated photo provided by Eric Alper shows Shirley Eikhard. The singer-songwriter who supplied songs for Cher, Emmylou Harris, Anne Murray, Chet Atkins and found lasting fame penning Bonnie Raitt‘s Grammy-winning 1991 hit “Something to Talk About,” has died. She was 67. Eikhard died Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022 at Headwaters Health Care Centre in Orangeville, Ontario, due to complications from cancer, said publicist Eric Alper. (Courtesy of Eric Alper via AP)

Woman injured in London concert crowd crush dies in hospital

The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Woman injured in London concert crowd crush dies in hospital

The Associated Press 2 minute read Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022

LONDON (AP) — A woman injured in a crush outside a London concert venue has died, police said Saturday.

London resident Rebecca Ikumelo, 33, was one of eight people hospitalized after being caught in mayhem outside the O2 Brixton Academy on Thursday night, where Nigerian singer Asake was due to perform.

The Metropolitan Police force said she died on Saturday morning. Two other women, aged 21 and 23, remain in critical condition.

Asake said he was “overwhelmed with grief" at Ikumelo's death.

Read
Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022

LONDON (AP) — A woman injured in a crush outside a London concert venue has died, police said Saturday.

London resident Rebecca Ikumelo, 33, was one of eight people hospitalized after being caught in mayhem outside the O2 Brixton Academy on Thursday night, where Nigerian singer Asake was due to perform.

The Metropolitan Police force said she died on Saturday morning. Two other women, aged 21 and 23, remain in critical condition.

Asake said he was “overwhelmed with grief" at Ikumelo's death.

Part of haul from 2019 German museum jewelry heist recovered

The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Part of haul from 2019 German museum jewelry heist recovered

The Associated Press 2 minute read Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022

BERLIN (AP) — German authorities said Saturday that they have recovered a significant part of the 18th-century treasures stolen from Dresden's Green Vault museum in a spectacular break-in more than three years ago.

Prosecutors and police said in a statement that they secured 31 items in Berlin overnight, including “several pieces that appear to be complete.” They were taken to Dresden, more than 160 kilometers (100 miles) away, where police and then officials from the authority that oversees the city's art collections plan to check their authenticity and examine whether they are intact.

Some prominent items are still missing, authorities said.

Saturday's statement gave no details of where exactly the items were found and in what circumstances.

Read
Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022

FILE - Visitors stand in the Jewel Room during the reopening of the Green Vault Museum in Dresden's Royal Palace of the Dresden State Art Collections (SKD) in Dresden, Germany, May 30, 2020. German authorities said Saturday Dec. 17, 2022, that they have recovered a significant part of the 18th-century treasures stolen from Dresden's Green Vault museum in a spectacular break-in more than three years ago. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer, file)
FILE - Visitors stand in the Jewel Room during the reopening of the Green Vault Museum in Dresden's Royal Palace of the Dresden State Art Collections (SKD) in Dresden, Germany, May 30, 2020. German authorities said Saturday Dec. 17, 2022, that they have recovered a significant part of the 18th-century treasures stolen from Dresden's Green Vault museum in a spectacular break-in more than three years ago. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer, file)

Dreams of Chinese fame persist at Vancouver pageant, where stars are born

Nono Shen, The Canadian Press 6 minute read Preview

Dreams of Chinese fame persist at Vancouver pageant, where stars are born

Nono Shen, The Canadian Press 6 minute read Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022

VANCOUVER - The eight women lining up to take questions included a pediatrician, a legal assistant and a piano teacher.

But standing on stage in their bikinis at the River Rock Casino in Richmond, B.C., they had one goal — to become the next Miss Chinese Vancouver.

The popularity of the 27-year-old pageant is testament to both the ongoing lure of celebrity in Hong Kong and Chinese show business, and what one expert called the "aura" surrounding Chinese Canadian entertainers across the Pacific.

Vancouver has long served as a talent source for the Hong Kong and mainland Chinese entertainment scenes, and the mutual attraction persists in spite of recent political tensions over the crackdown on dissent in Hong Kong and allegations of Chinese political interference in Canada.

Read
Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022

Competitors, including eventual winner Yi Yi Wang, front centre, dance during the Miss Chinese Vancouver Pageant, in Richmond, B.C., on Wednesday, November 30, 2022. The popularity of the 27-year-old pageant is testament to both the ongoing lure of celebrity in Hong Kong and Chinese show business, and what one expert calls the "aura" surrounding Canadian Chinese entertainers across the Pacific. Vancouver has long served as a source of talent for the Hong Kong and mainland Chinese entertainment scenes, and the mutual attraction persists in spite of recent political tensions between Canada and Beijing. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Competitors, including eventual winner Yi Yi Wang, front centre, dance during the Miss Chinese Vancouver Pageant, in Richmond, B.C., on Wednesday, November 30, 2022. The popularity of the 27-year-old pageant is testament to both the ongoing lure of celebrity in Hong Kong and Chinese show business, and what one expert calls the

Guest lineups for the Sunday news shows

The Associated Press 1 minute read Preview

Guest lineups for the Sunday news shows

The Associated Press 1 minute read Friday, Dec. 16, 2022

WASHINGTON (AP) — ABC’s “This Week” — Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas; Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif.; Dr. Ashish Jha, White House COVID-19 response coordinator; Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova.

__

NBC’s “Meet the Press” — Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio; Gov. Asa Hutchinson, R-Ark.; Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.

__

Read
Friday, Dec. 16, 2022

WASHINGTON (AP) — ABC’s “This Week” — Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas; Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif.; Dr. Ashish Jha, White House COVID-19 response coordinator; Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova.

__

NBC’s “Meet the Press” — Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio; Gov. Asa Hutchinson, R-Ark.; Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.

__

Witness on tape says she saw Lanez shoot Megan Thee Stallion

Andrew Dalton, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

Witness on tape says she saw Lanez shoot Megan Thee Stallion

Andrew Dalton, The Associated Press 4 minute read Friday, Dec. 16, 2022

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Megan Thee Stallion 's former close friend and assistant said in a recorded interview played for jurors Friday that she saw rapper Tory Lanez fire a gun at Megan's feet.

The interview with prosecutors from September was played at Lanez's Los Angeles assault trial after Kelsey Harris said on the stand Wednesday that she did not see Lanez firing the gun that left her former friend and boss wounded, and didn't remember other key details.

“He was shooting the gun,” Harris says on the recording, describing seeing Lanez standing beside an SUV in the Hollywood Hills, leaning over the front passenger-side door and pointing the gun at the ground near Megan.

The Canadian rapper Lanez, 30, whose legal name is Daystar Peterson, has pleaded not guilty to discharging a firearm with gross negligence, assault with a semiautomatic firearm and carrying a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle.

Read
Friday, Dec. 16, 2022

Rapper Tory Lanez, 30, places his his 5-year-old son Kai'Lon into the back of sports car after walking out of the courthouse, Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022, in Los Angeles. Megan Thee Stallion took the stand Tuesday and told jurors that Lanez fired five shots at her feet, yelled at her to dance and wounded her as she tried to walk away from him in the Hollywood Hills more than two years ago. The Canadian rapper has pleaded not guilty to discharging a firearm with gross negligence, assault with a semiautomatic firearm and carrying a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Rapper Tory Lanez, 30, places his his 5-year-old son Kai'Lon into the back of sports car after walking out of the courthouse, Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022, in Los Angeles. Megan Thee Stallion took the stand Tuesday and told jurors that Lanez fired five shots at her feet, yelled at her to dance and wounded her as she tried to walk away from him in the Hollywood Hills more than two years ago. The Canadian rapper has pleaded not guilty to discharging a firearm with gross negligence, assault with a semiautomatic firearm and carrying a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Each World Cup semifinal seen by 9M people in US

The Associated Press 1 minute read Preview

Each World Cup semifinal seen by 9M people in US

The Associated Press 1 minute read Friday, Dec. 16, 2022

NEW YORK (AP) — Victories by Argentina and France in the World Cup semifinals were each seen by nine million people in the U.S.

Argentina's 3-0 win over Croatia on Tuesday was seen by 9.3 million. The match was viewed by 6.47 million on Fox, according to Nielsen. Fox said the figure included 677,000 streaming the match on its digital services. The game was viewed by 2.83 million on Spanish-language Telemundo.

Nielsen did not include Spanish-language streaming on Peacock and Telemundo.

France's 2-0 victory over Morocco on Wednesday was viewed by 9 million. The game was seen by 6.59 million on Fox, which said the figure included 660,000 streaming the game digitally. The win by Les Bleus was seen by 2.41 million on Telemundo, Nielsen said.

Read
Friday, Dec. 16, 2022

Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates defeating Croatia 3-0 in a World Cup semifinal soccer match at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates defeating Croatia 3-0 in a World Cup semifinal soccer match at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Q&A: Bethenny Frankel on giving advice on all platforms

Brooke Lefferts, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Q&A: Bethenny Frankel on giving advice on all platforms

Brooke Lefferts, The Associated Press 5 minute read Friday, Dec. 16, 2022

NEW YORK (AP) — Bethenny Frankel has never been shy about offering her opinion, but lately, giving advice has become her business. The reality TV star and producer, entrepreneur, and bestselling author has a new CNBC show, “Money Court,” where she and co-host Kevin O’Leary hear business dilemmas and come up with solutions.

On the show, Frankel and O’Leary hear disputes or problems in small businesses, including pricing strategies, work culture issues and ways to expand. The hosts make a ruling on the best way to proceed. Frankel has also recently built a large following on her Instagram feed for her brutally honest posts about food and beauty products. On the same day, she could be testing who makes the best pasta sauce, and whether a high-end end night cream is better than a drugstore brand.

Frankel, who may be best known for her role in the Bravo reality series “Real Housewives of New York City,'' recently talked to The Associated Press about her new hosting duties, social feeds and advising her daughter. Answers have been abbreviated for clarity and brevity.

AP: You and Kevin have strong personalities. How do you get along?

Read
Friday, Dec. 16, 2022

This image released by CNBC shows Kevin O'Leary, left, and Bethenny Frankel, hosts of the the financial show "Money Court" on the set in Miami. (Jeff Daly/CNBC via AP)
This image released by CNBC shows Kevin O'Leary, left, and Bethenny Frankel, hosts of the the financial show

New this week: Mariah Carey special, ‘Maverick,’ ‘Best Man’

The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

New this week: Mariah Carey special, ‘Maverick,’ ‘Best Man’

The Associated Press 5 minute read Monday, Dec. 19, 2022

Here’s a collection curated by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists of what’s arriving on TV, streaming services and music platforms this week.

MOVIES

— At long last, “Top Gun: Maverick” is coming to a streaming hub. The biggest film of the year is gearing up to land on Paramount+ as of Thursday after its high-flying run in theaters in which it became the highest grossing film of the year with over $1.4 billion in worldwide ticket sales. In the unlikely chance you’ve been holding out for this moment to finally watch the film which finds Tom Cruise back in the cockpit, the AP’s Mark Kennedy, in his review, wrote that "Top Gun: Maverick" is "a textbook example of how to make a sequel.”

— Netflix also saved a big gun for the holiday corridor with Rian Johnson’s “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” hitting the service on Friday, Dec. 23. The crowd-pleasing whodunnit brings back Daniel Craig’s honey-voiced detective Benoit Blanc and puts him on a private Greek island with a group of self-styled disruptors to solve a new mystery (what the mystery is is even part of the mystery this time). The star-studded cast includes Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, Kate Hudson and Dave Bautista. With its wealthy protagonists, intrigue and enviable vacation fashions, it’s a terrific chaser for those mourning the loss “White Lotus” season 2.

Read
Monday, Dec. 19, 2022

This combination of images shows "Top Gun: Maverick," streaming Dec. 22 on Paramount+, left, "The Wheel," a celebrity game show hosted by British comedian Michael McIntyre, premiering Dec. 19 on NBC, center, and "Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery" streaming Dec. 23 on Netflix. (Paramount+/NBC/Netflix via AP)
This combination of images shows

Top 20 Global Concert Tours from Pollstar

The Associated Press 1 minute read Preview

Top 20 Global Concert Tours from Pollstar

The Associated Press 1 minute read Friday, Dec. 16, 2022

The Top 20 Global Concert Tours ranks artists by average box office gross per city and includes the average ticket price for shows Worldwide. The list is based on data provided to the trade publication Pollstar by concert promoters and venue managers. Week of 12/16/2022 :

TOP 20 GLOBAL CONCERT TOURS

1. Bad Bunny; $6,434,586; $149.11.

2. Elton John; $6,359,336; $165.79.

Read
Friday, Dec. 16, 2022

The Top 20 Global Concert Tours ranks artists by average box office gross per city and includes the average ticket price for shows Worldwide. The list is based on data provided to the trade publication Pollstar by concert promoters and venue managers. Week of 12/16/2022 :

TOP 20 GLOBAL CONCERT TOURS

1. Bad Bunny; $6,434,586; $149.11.

2. Elton John; $6,359,336; $165.79.

AP Breakthrough Entertainer: Tenoch Huerta, a global hero

Berenice Bautista, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

AP Breakthrough Entertainer: Tenoch Huerta, a global hero

Berenice Bautista, The Associated Press 5 minute read Friday, Dec. 16, 2022

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The opening credits of “Wakanda Forever” fittingly say “introducing Tenoch Huerta.”

What an introduction it’s been.

Huerta’s role as Namor in the “Black Panther” sequel has wowed audiences, catapulting him onto the global stage and sparking conversations about race and identity, both in his native Mexico and abroad. It’s also led to Huerta being named one of The Associated Press’ Breakthrough Entertainers of 2022, joining the ranks of Sadie Sink, Daryl McCormack and his fellow Marvel standout, Iman Vellani.

Like many of the Breakthrough Entertainer honorees, Huerta isn’t a newcomer. He’s appeared in numerous films such as “The Forever Purge” and series like “Mozart in the Jungle” and “Narcos: Mexico." But “Wakanda Forever” has given him a new level of global exposure, which he’s using to advance several causes like inclusivity and social justice.

Read
Friday, Dec. 16, 2022

This combination of photos shows AP's 2022 breakthrough entertainers of the year. Actor/recording artist Joaquina Kalukango, top row from left, actor Tenoch Huerta, actor Danielle Deadwyler, actor Daryl McCormack, middle row from left, actor Iman Vellani, actor Sadie Sink, actor Simone Ashley, bottom row from left, actor Stephanie Hsu, and actor/recording artist Tobe Nwigwe. (AP Photo)
This combination of photos shows AP's 2022 breakthrough entertainers of the year. Actor/recording artist Joaquina Kalukango, top row from left, actor Tenoch Huerta, actor Danielle Deadwyler, actor Daryl McCormack, middle row from left, actor Iman Vellani, actor Sadie Sink, actor Simone Ashley, bottom row from left, actor Stephanie Hsu, and actor/recording artist Tobe Nwigwe. (AP Photo)

AP Breakthrough Entertainer: Simone Ashley finds her voice

Alicia Rancilio, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

AP Breakthrough Entertainer: Simone Ashley finds her voice

Alicia Rancilio, The Associated Press 4 minute read Friday, Dec. 16, 2022

DETROIT (AP) — Simone Ashley was busy working and traveling when “Bridgerton” debuted on Netflix in December 2020 and was an immediate smash with viewers. The Shonda Rhimes-produced series about the romantic pursuits of a large family in Regency-era London wasn't on Ashley's radar. So, when the audition for season two came about, she didn't quite grasp what a big opportunity lay before her.

“It kind of came at a time of my life where I was living between Los Angeles and London and all of my stuff was in the States," recalled Ashley. “I was just on the road the whole time.”

In hindsight, it worked to Ashley's benefit that she wasn't fully aware of what a high-profile project “Bridgerton” would be, so it didn't overwhelm or distract her during the audition process.

“A lot of the time when you audition for something, there is a bit of pressure and you can’t help but feel emotionally invested and get your hopes up and all of those things that every actor goes through. This one all happened in like 10 days, and I just didn’t really understand what was happening," she said.

Read
Friday, Dec. 16, 2022

Simone Ashley poses for a portrait on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022, in New York. Ashley has been named one of The Associated Press' Breakthrough Entertainers of 2022.(Photo by Drew Gurian/Invision/AP)
Simone Ashley poses for a portrait on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022, in New York. Ashley has been named one of The Associated Press' Breakthrough Entertainers of 2022.(Photo by Drew Gurian/Invision/AP)

German FM to personally return 20 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria

The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

German FM to personally return 20 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria

The Associated Press 2 minute read Friday, Dec. 16, 2022

BERLIN (AP) — Germany's foreign minister will personally take 20 artifacts looted by Europeans during colonial times back to Nigeria when she visits to Africa's most populous country next week, her spokesman said Friday.

The symbolic gesture follows an agreement earlier this year between Berlin and Abuja that will see all 514 so-called Benin Bronzes held in German museums handed back to Nigeria.

“With her trip Foreign Minister (Annalena) Baerbock is fulfilling this pledge," her spokesman Christofer Burger told reporters in Berlin.

Baerbock, who departs for Abuja on Sunday, will be accompanied by representatives from the German museums with the biggest collections of Benin Bronzes.

Read
Friday, Dec. 16, 2022

Benin bronzes are being assembled for return to Nigeria at the Ethnological Museum Dahlem in Berlin on Dec. 6, 2022. Germany's foreign minister will personally take 20 artifacts looted by Europeans during colonial times back to Nigeria when she visits to Africa's most populous country next week, her spokesman said Friday. The symbolic gesture follows an agreement earlier this year between Berlin and Abuja that will see all 514 so-called Benin Bronzes held in German museums handed back to Nigeria. (Wolfgang Kumm/dpa via AP)
Benin bronzes are being assembled for return to Nigeria at the Ethnological Museum Dahlem in Berlin on Dec. 6, 2022. Germany's foreign minister will personally take 20 artifacts looted by Europeans during colonial times back to Nigeria when she visits to Africa's most populous country next week, her spokesman said Friday. The symbolic gesture follows an agreement earlier this year between Berlin and Abuja that will see all 514 so-called Benin Bronzes held in German museums handed back to Nigeria. (Wolfgang Kumm/dpa via AP)

Pope returns Greece’s Parthenon Sculptures in ecumenical nod

Nicole Winfield, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

Pope returns Greece’s Parthenon Sculptures in ecumenical nod

Nicole Winfield, The Associated Press 4 minute read Friday, Dec. 16, 2022

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis will send back to Greece the three fragments of the Parthenon Sculptures that the Vatican Museums have held for two centuries, in the latest case of a Western museum bowing to demands for restitution of artifacts to their countries of origin.

In announcing the decision Friday, the Vatican termed the gesture a “donation” from Francis to His Beatitude Ieronymos II, the Orthodox Christian archbishop of Athens and all Greece, and said it was “a concrete sign of his sincere desire to follow in the ecumenical path of truth.”

The return, which is expected to still take some time to execute, is likely to add further pressure on the British Museums, which has refused decades of appeals from Greece to return its much larger collection of Parthenon sculptures, which has been a centerpiece of the museum since 1816.

The 5th century B.C. sculptures are mostly remnants of a 160-meter-long (520-foot) frieze that ran around the outer walls of the Parthenon Temple on the Acropolis, dedicated to Athena, goddess of wisdom. Much of the frieze and the temple's other sculptural decoration was lost in a 17th-century bombardment, and about half the remaining works were removed in the early 19th century by a British diplomat, Lord Elgin.

Read
Friday, Dec. 16, 2022

Pope Francis attends his weekly general audience in the Paul VI Hall at The Vatican, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
Pope Francis attends his weekly general audience in the Paul VI Hall at The Vatican, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)

Douglas Emhoff tours 988 call center for mental health

The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Douglas Emhoff tours 988 call center for mental health

The Associated Press 3 minute read Friday, Dec. 16, 2022

WASHINGTON (AP) — Douglas Emhoff, the husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, on Friday visited a 988 call center that's part of the recently launched national hotline intended to help anyone experiencing a mental health emergency.

Emhoff, who has spoken out on the importance of mental health for adults and children, and who last week addressed the pain of rising antisemitism, met with crisis counselors and call center operators in Hyattsville, Maryland.

“Instead of calling 911 for emergency, we need to get everyone to know that it’s 988 for any issue that revolve around mental health or suicidal ideation or those feelings of being alone,” said Emhoff. He noted that the average hold time on calls is 32 seconds.

The Biden administration wants to highlight the 988 helpline as a support system, particularly as the holiday season often brings up feelings of stress, anxiety and depression.

Read
Friday, Dec. 16, 2022

Doug Emhoff, the husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, speaks during a roundtable discussion with Jewish leaders about the rise in antisemitism and efforts to fight hate in the United States in the Indian Treaty Room in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House Campus in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Doug Emhoff, the husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, speaks during a roundtable discussion with Jewish leaders about the rise in antisemitism and efforts to fight hate in the United States in the Indian Treaty Room in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House Campus in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

3 in critical condition after crush at London concert venue

The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

3 in critical condition after crush at London concert venue

The Associated Press 2 minute read Friday, Dec. 16, 2022

LONDON (AP) — Three people remained hospitalized in critical condition on Friday after hundreds of people forced their way into a London concert venue during a performance by Nigerian Afrobeats star Asake.

Police said eight people were taken to hospitals after being caught in a crowd trying to get into the O2 Brixton Academy. Initially four were listed in critical condition. Two less seriously injured people were treated at the scene.

The Metropolitan Police force said emergency services were called Thursday night after “a large crowd attempted to gain entry without tickets.” Video footage shot by bystanders shows a crowd of hundreds outside the concert hall, and scores of people pushing through the doors and rushing upstairs.

Akin Oluwaleimu went to the concert with his 14-year-old daughter but said he decided to leave after things turned “rowdy” outside.

Read
Friday, Dec. 16, 2022

The scene outside Brixton O2 Academy where police are investigating the circumstances which led to four people sustaining critical injuries in an apparent crush as a large crowd tried to force their way into the south London concert venue, Friday Dec. 16, 2022. Four people were hospitalized in critical condition on Friday after a suspected crush at a London concert venue, where Nigerian singer Asake was performing. (Kirsty O'Connor/PA via AP)
The scene outside Brixton O2 Academy where police are investigating the circumstances which led to four people sustaining critical injuries in an apparent crush as a large crowd tried to force their way into the south London concert venue, Friday Dec. 16, 2022. Four people were hospitalized in critical condition on Friday after a suspected crush at a London concert venue, where Nigerian singer Asake was performing. (Kirsty O'Connor/PA via AP)

E.W. Scripps announces formation of new sports division

The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

E.W. Scripps announces formation of new sports division

The Associated Press 2 minute read Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022

CINCINNATI (AP) — The E.W. Scripps Company has announced the launch of a sports division as it looks acquire local and national rights for teams and leagues.

Scripps has stations in 61 markets and is the nation's fourth-largest local TV broadcaster. It also purchased ION Media last year, which has the fifth-largest national broadcast viewership.

Scripps sports could serve as an alternative or additional outlet for teams looking beyond regional sports networks, which have encountered financial difficulties in recent years.

Brian Lawlor, who has led Scripps' local media division since 2009, will become the president of the sports division. He will also continue his role with local media until a possible replacement is named.

Read
Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022

CINCINNATI (AP) — The E.W. Scripps Company has announced the launch of a sports division as it looks acquire local and national rights for teams and leagues.

Scripps has stations in 61 markets and is the nation's fourth-largest local TV broadcaster. It also purchased ION Media last year, which has the fifth-largest national broadcast viewership.

Scripps sports could serve as an alternative or additional outlet for teams looking beyond regional sports networks, which have encountered financial difficulties in recent years.

Brian Lawlor, who has led Scripps' local media division since 2009, will become the president of the sports division. He will also continue his role with local media until a possible replacement is named.

LOAD MORE