NEW YORK — With a combined $270 million in worldwide ticket sales, “Wicked” and “Gladiator II” breathed fresh life into a box office that has struggled lately, leading to one of the busiest moviegoing weekends of the year. Jon M. Chu’s lavish big-budget musical “Wicked,” starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, debuted with...
G7 Foreign Ministers Meet in Italy With Hopes of Progress Toward Mideast Ceasefire
FIUGGI, Italy — Foreign ministers from the world’s leading industrialized nations met Monday as signs emerged of progress on a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah and a certain pressure to advance diplomatic efforts in both the Mideast and Ukraine wars ahead of the new U.S. administration taking office. Progress on...
Augillard, Douglas Lead the Way as Bulldogs Rally Past Long Beach State
LONG BEACH — Amar Augillard led Fresno State with 25 points and David Douglas Jr. made a go-ahead 3-pointer with 42 seconds left as the Bulldogs took down Long Beach State 72-69 on Saturday night in a nonconference game. Augillard shot 8 of 21 from the field, including 4 for...
Israel Strikes Without Warning in Beirut, Kills at Least 15 as Cease-Fire Sought
BEIRUT — Israeli airstrikes Saturday in central Beirut killed at least 15 people, officials said, as the once-rare attacks on the heart of Lebanon's capital continued without warning while diplomats scrambled to broker a cease-fire. Lebanon's Health Ministry said 63 people were wounded in the strikes, which were the fourth...
Trump Taps Rollins as Ag Chief in Final Cabinet Pick
WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump said Saturday that he will nominate former White House aide Brooke Rollins to be his agriculture secretary, the last of his picks to lead executive agencies and another choice from within his established circle of advisers and allies. The nomination must be confirmed by the...
Nations at UN Climate Talks Agree on $300B a Year for Poor Countries in a Compromise Deal
BAKU, Azerbaijan — United Nations climate talks adopted a deal to inject at least $300 billion annually in humanity's fight against climate change, aimed at helping poor nations cope with the ravages of global warming in tense negotiations in the city where industry first tapped oil. The $300 billion will...
What to Know About Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Trump’s Pick for Labor Secretary
WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump on Friday named Oregon Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer to lead the Department of Labor in his second administration, elevating a Republican congresswoman who has strong support from unions in her district but lost reelection in November. Chavez-DeRemer will have to be confirmed by the Senate, which...
What to Know About Scott Turner, Trump’s Pick for Housing Secretary
Scott Turner, President-elect Donald Trump choice to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development, is a former NFL player who ran the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump's first term. Turner, 52, is the first Black person selected to be a member of the Republican's Cabinet. Here...
NATO Head and Trump Meet in Florida for Talks on Global Security
BRUSSELS — U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and the head of NATO have met for talks on global security, the military alliance said Saturday. In a brief statement, NATO said Trump and its secretary general, Mark Rutte, met on Friday in Palm Beach, Florida. "They discussed the range of global security...
Why Cranberry Sauce Is America’s Least Favorite Thanksgiving Dish – and 5 Creative Ways to Use It
There is always that one dish on the Thanksgiving table - overlooked while the mashed potatoes and gravy steal the spotlight. Surprisingly, this much-maligned side dish has been a part of American tradition for centuries and holds endless possibilities beyond its original purpose, perfectly suited to be reinvented in unexpected...