'Wicked' soars with $114 million domestic opening, 'Gladiator' snares $55.5 million

Conan O'Brien, host of the 2025 Oscars, revealed on his podcast that the Academy had strict guidelines for portraying the Oscar statue, rejecting his ideas for promo videos involving the statue being portrayed in domestic scenarios. Despite wanting to portray Oscar in an apron or on a couch, he was told Oscar could never be horizontal or wear clothing. Conan also faced red tape while trying to include gummy snacks in attendee gift boxes, as...

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper was found to have acted unlawfully by housing asylum seekers at a former RAF base without assessing the impact on vulnerable individuals, breaching the Equality Act. The High Court ruled that the government's failure to fulfill duties to migrants with special needs at RAF Wethersfield was in violation of the law, prompting calls for the closure of the site by refugee charity Care4Calais due to the mental distress inflicted on residents....

The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terror Squad arrested Ravindra Kumar, an employee of the Ordnance Factory in Hazratpur, for allegedly sharing sensitive information with a Pakistani agent he befriended on Facebook. The ATS found classified documents on Kumar's phone that he had sent to the agent, leading to his arrest and transfer to their Lucknow headquarters for further investigation. This incident highlights the ongoing threats posed by foreign spy agencies targeting Indian government personnel for confidential information,...

In a Truth Social post, US President Donald Trump stated that there is a "very good chance" that the war between Russia and Ukraine could come to an end after "productive" discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump requested that Putin spare the lives of Ukrainian troops who are surrounded, and US envoy Steve Witkoff had a lengthy meeting with Putin in Moscow to convey signals to Trump about potential next steps in negotiations. Kremlin...

A man who stalked Girls Aloud singer Cheryl Tweedy has been jailed for 16 weeks after repeatedly targeting her at her home in Buckinghamshire, leaving her "terrified." Daniel Bannister, 50, breached a restraining order and admitted harassment, causing Tweedy to fear for her safety. Tweedy expressed feeling violated and unsafe in her own home, leading to Bannister's imprisonment and an indefinite restraining order. Full Article

Chinese battery giant Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) broke ground on its first overseas factory in Germany in late 2019. The company plans to add up to 2,000 jobs at the factory by 2025, marking a significant expansion for CATL as it establishes a presence in Europe. The move reflects CATL's growing global footprint and commitment to meeting the increasing demand for electric vehicle batteries worldwide. Full Article