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BUENOS AIRES (AP) — Thiago Messi, the eldest son of the Argentina star, has made his debut in the “Newell’s Cup” tournament in the countryside city of Rosario. The 12-year-old Messi played with the No. 10 jersey of an Inter Miami youth team, which lost 1-0 on Monday to host Newell’s Old Boys in the traditional under-13 competition. The team also played Tuesday. Lionel Messi took his first steps as a footballer in the Argentinian club in Rosario, 300 kilometers (186 miles) northwest of capital Buenos Aires. Thiago's mother, Antonela Roccuzzo, and several members of his family, including grandparents Jorge Messi and Celia Cuccittini, were in the stands to watch him play. Lionel Messi did not attend. Thiago, who was substituted in the second half, played with his friend Benjamín Suárez, son of Uruguayan striker Luis Suárez, Messi's teammate and close friend at Barcelona and now at Inter Miami. Messi and Suárez are in Rosario after Inter Miami’s early elimination in the MLS playoffs. On Sunday, they watched a friendly game of Inter Miami's U13 team against Unión at the same sports complex. The youth tournament in Argentina brings together eight teams from North and South America. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerCapitals star Alex Ovechkin has fractured fibula, out 4-6 weeks

Penn State's polarizing QB Drew Allar puts critics on mute and keeps winning games

Identity of man (68) jailed for sexual abuse of teenage girl over 30 years ago is revealedAlexandra Samuels is a national political reporter and contributor to the Daily Dot, where she started as an intern covering politics in the summer of 2016. She enjoys all things Marvel, keeping up with the latest TikTok trends, long walks with her pup, and reading murder-mystery novels.Styrene Butadiene (SB) Latex Market to Grow by USD 1.50 Billion (2024-2028), Demand from APAC and Europe Boosts Growth, AI Impact on Market Trends - Technavio

Christmas is not just a season of celebration but also one of giving and receiving. Santa Claus, who embodies generosity toward the less fortunate, reminds us of the joy of generosity. In this spirit, we appeal to the PM for five significant ‘gifts' to address the pressing concerns of the Christian community in India. We appreciate the Prime Minister's gestures of solidarity, such as meeting with the Archbishop of Delhi and other dignitaries, and hope for a similar outreach this year. Addressing the anti-conversion issue The enactment of anti-conversion laws in 12 states is distressing, often leading to unjust persecution of Christians. These laws, misnamed ‘Freedom of Religion Bills,' impose stringent and unreasonable restrictions, violating personal liberty and human rights. Despite Christians contributing immensely to education, healthcare, and social services, they face baseless accusations of mass conversions. Over 75 years of Independence, our population has remained at 2.1%, debunking such myths. We urge the PM to foster genuine freedom of religion by directing states to adopt a more tolerant approach. Resolving the Manipur crisis Despite the Union minority affairs minister's assurances of safety, Christians in Manipur continue to face challenges, with the civil unrest lingering for over 18 months. The absence of the PM's visit to this beautiful state is deeply felt. We appeal for peace in Manipur, echoing the angel's proclamation at Christ's birth: "Glory to God and peace to men of goodwill." Halting attacks on Christians and institutions Reports of violence against Christians are alarming, with 767 incidents recorded in 2024 alone. Over 80 Christians are imprisoned simply for their faith. While the ministry of external affairs dismissed international concerns, the reality of intolerance persists. We request the PM to ensure the safety and dignity of Christians, curbing the actions of a few extremists tarnishing the image of India's harmonious majority. Uplifting SC/ST Christians Since the 1950 Presidential Order, Christians of SC/ST origin have been denied reservation benefits granted to converts of other religions. This longstanding injustice contradicts the equality enshrined in our Constitution. We urge the PM to ensure equal rights for all citizens. Facilitating Pope Francis' visit The community eagerly anticipates Pope Francis' visit to India in 2025, a Jubilee Year marking 2025 years since Christ's birth. The PM's invitation to the Holy Father during their June 2024 meeting in the Vatican brought immense joy. We hope he will follow up to make this historic visit a reality. Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a bright New Year! (The writer is the Archbishop of Bengaluru) Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , Location Guesser and Mini Crossword . Spread love this holiday season with these Christmas wishes , messages , and quotes .Pep Guardiola admits Man City's title race will be OVER if they lose to Liverpool next week as beleaguered boss concedes his champions are 'fragile' after Spurs hammeringConor McGregor's fiancée Dee Devlin breaks silence after shamed UFC star lost civil sex assault trial By MATT STRUDWICK Published: 23:30 GMT, 26 November 2024 | Updated: 23:36 GMT, 26 November 2024 e-mail View comments The fiancée of Conor McGregor has tonight broken her silence after the mixed martial arts star lost his civil sexual assault case. McGregor, 36, last week lost a civil case brought by Nikita Hand, 35, who won almost €250,000 in damages after she alleged that he raped her in a Dublin hotel on December 9, 2018. His partner of 15 years Dee Devlin was pictured arriving hand-in-hand with McGregor to the hearings and tonight took to Instagram to post a long rant in staunch defence of her man. Posting a family snap of McGregor and Devlin with two of their four children, she said: 'I love him I trust him and I BELIEVE HIM!' It comes hours after McGregor vowed to appeal the verdict but admitted he has made 'mistakes'. Devlin went on to say in her post that 'the smiling faces and happy hearts' of their four children 'are testimony to the man he is and who we are'. 'No one is entitled to comment on our relationship - we trust one another and love one another,' Devlin said. 'Nothing or nobody will change that. Our family stands strong!' Conor McGregor's partner of 15 years Dee Devlin was pictured arriving hand-in-hand with the mixed martial arts star to the his civil court case and tonight took to Instagram to post a long rant in staunch defence of her man Posting a family snap of McGregor and Devlin with two of their four children, she said: 'I love him I trust him and I BELIEVE HIM!' She then went on to launch into a furious rant aimed at Ms Hand in which she made a series of astonishing allegations before adding: 'My sons will be warned women like you exist in the world.' She then went on to launch into a furious rant aimed at Ms Hand in which she made a series of astonishing allegations before adding: 'My sons will be warned women like you exist in the world.' Read More Conor McGregor issues statement vowing to appeal court defeat but admitting 'mistakes' and 'regrets' 'Imagine a woman, with her own boyfriend and child, texting provocative pictures of herself to another woman's man with a family and child on the way,' Devlin alleged in a post on her Instagram stories. 'This woman claims to know me, yet still went ahead and sent messages and pictures of herself over and over to my man? Really? 'Whilst out on a 3 day bender, texting excuses to her own child at home where mammy is on Saturday afternoon, Saturday night, Sunday morning, Sunday night, into Monday morning. 'All the while out of her face in a hotel room, dancing around a hotel carpark. What sort of woman are you!!!' She carried on to claim that CCTV 'does not lie' and claimed it was the 'real evidence, video footage no one knew was being taken in the moment in which you miraculously don't remember?'. Mixed martial arts fighter McGregor and partner Dee Devlin outside the High Court in Dublin on Friday November 22 The MMA fighter and Devlin have been together since 2008 and became engaged in 2020, although they are yet to get married McGregor last week lost a civil case brought by Nikita Hand, 35, (pictured) who won almost €250,000 in damages after she alleged that he raped her in a Dublin hotel on December 9, 2018 Devlin then alleged: 'To me it looks like you're the one sexually assaulting in the lift. To me it looks like everyone is trying to get away from you.' She went on to reveal that she and McGregor had 'come out stronger than ever' after dealing 'with these issues privately many years ago, as should be done in a relationship'. Devlin signed of her final post with another dig saying: 'They without sin cast the first stone.' Read More EXCLUSIVE Conor McGregor's drinks brands to be pulled from UK supermarkets as major retailers boycott UFC star McGregor last week vowed to appeal the High Court's decision but expressed his 'regret' over 'mistakes' made. Writing on X, formerly Twitter, he said: 'People want to hear from me, I needed time. I know I made mistakes. 'Six years ago, I should have never responded to her outreaches. I should have shut the party down. I should never have stepped out on the woman I love the most in the world. That's all on me. 'As much as I regret it, everything that happened that night was consensual and all the witnesses present swore to that under oath. I have instructed my legal team to appeal the decision.' He added: 'I can't go back and I will move forward. I am beyond grateful to my family, friends and supporters all over the world who have stayed by my side. That's it. No more. Getting back to the gym- the fight game awaits!' It comes after the MailOnline exclusively revealed a host of major UK retailers are set to pull McGregor affiliated drinks from sale . Conor McGregor has issued a fresh statement vowing to appeal his civil sexual assault case defeat but admitted he has made 'mistakes' McGregor and his partner leave the High Court after the case against him McGregor, pictured with his partner of 15 years Dee Devlin Tesco , who boast over 3,400 stores across the UK, Asda , with over 1,200 UK stores and major food delivery service Ocado have all confirmed that they will no longer stock or sell Proper 12 whiskey or Forged Irish Stout. Read More Inside Conor McGregor and Dee Devlin's turbulent 15-year relationship amid sexual assault case The Irish fighter was the face of both brands, appearing in advertisements and promotional material across a host of platforms, with the Proper 12 whiskey brand named after McGregor's home postal district in Dublin. In a statement to the MailOnline, a Tesco spokesperson stated: 'We can confirm that we are removing Proper No 12 Whiskey from sale in Tesco stores and online'. An Asda spokesperson told the MailOnline: 'I can confirm that we have removed Forged Irish Stout from sale in store and online and have made the supplier aware of this decision'. Similarly, an Ocado spokesperson could not provide comment but did confirm that the alcoholic beverages which were affiliated with McGregor would no longer be sold by the food delivery service and have been removed from stock as of today. The news of major UK retailers distancing themselves from the MMA star comes off the back of Irish distributors confirming that they would also be removing both Proper 12 whiskey and Forged Irish Stout from sale. Ireland's largest food retail company Musgraves confirmed on Tuesday morning to The Currency that they would be 'delisting' drinks associated with McGregor. Conor McGregor lost his civil sexual assault case against Nikita hand in Irish court last week Now, a number of major UK retailers have revealed to the MailOnline that they are removing drink brands affiliated with McGregor from sale Both Proper 12 Whiskey and Forged Irish Stout will no longer be sold by Tesco and Ocado McGregor has been accused of sex attacks on four other occasions, all of which were dismissed by police, most recently in Miami last year at the NBA Finals. In every case he has vehemently denied any wrongdoing and on at least one occasion sources close to him said allegations of sexual assault were mendacious and money-related. However, on this occasion, a jury found that McGregor assaulted Ms Hand in Dublin hotel, The Beacon, in December 2018. Read More Image of Conor McGregor's fiancé goes viral after UFC star loses civil sexual assault case The jury at the High Court in Dublin had been deliberating for a day before returning its verdict that McGregor did assault Ms Hand. Following eight days of evidence and a further three of listening to closing speeches and the judge's comments, the jury of eight women and four men spent just over six hours deliberating before returning with its verdict. As the verdict was read out, McGregor shook his head, whilst Ms Hand cried and was hugged by her partner and supporters. In emotional scenes outside the court following the verdict, Ms Hand told reporters said she was 'overwhelmed and touched' by the support she had received. She added: 'I want to show [my daughter] Freya and every other young girl and boy that you can stand up for yourself if something happens to you, no matter who the person is, and that justice will be served'. Hand is comforted after the decision following two weeks of hearings in Dublin After deliberating for six hours and 10 minutes, the jury returned with their verdicts on Friday McGregor and his partner, Dee Devlin, outside the High Court in Dublin after Friday's verdict The Proper 12 Irish Whiskey brand was first launched back in 2018 by McGregor, with the fighter and his team eventually selling the brand for a reported sale price of roughly £500 million. McGregor himself pocketed an estimated £120 million in the deal when selling his majority stake, but has remained a prominent promoter of the whiskey since its 2021 acquisition by Proximo Spirits. The former two-division UFC champion also currently owns a business empire in his native Ireland which boasts the popular Dublin pub The Blackforge Inn as its public-facing crown. McGregor has spent an estimated £2.5 million purchasing and renovating the venue on Dublin's Longmile Road which has become the social media backdrop for the fighter's online promoting of both Proper 12 whiskey and Forged Irish Stout. A number of other leading UK retailers have been contacted by the MailOnline but are yet to comment as to whether or not they will continue to stock both of McGregor's affiliated drinks. Ocado Conor Mcgregor UFC Fighting Tesco Share or comment on this article: Conor McGregor's fiancée Dee Devlin breaks silence after shamed UFC star lost civil sex assault trial e-mail Add comment

All is not well in the BJP government in Odisha. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the state has come at a time when the BJP state unit is hit by discord. The lack of coordination between the government and the organisation is another cause of worry for the party leadership.RSU solicits donations for proposed Center for Science and Technology

NEW YORK — Walmart's sweeping rollback of its diversity policies is the strongest indication yet of a profound shift taking hold at U.S. companies that are re-evaluating the legal and political risks associated with bold programs to bolster historically underrepresented groups. The changes announced by the world's biggest retailer on Monday followed a string of legal victories by conservative groups that have filed an onslaught of lawsuits challenging corporate and federal programs aimed at elevating minority and women-owned businesses and employees. The retreat from such programs crystalized with the election of former President Donald Trump, whose administration is certain to make dismantling diversity, equity and inclusion programs a priority. Trump's incoming deputy chief of policy will be his former adviser Stephen Miller , who leads a group called America First Legal that has aggressively challenged corporate DEI policies. “There has been a lot of reassessment of risk looking at programs that could be deemed to constitute reverse discrimination,” said Allan Schweyer, principal researcher at the Human Capital Center at the Conference Board. “This is another domino to fall and it is a rather large domino,” he added. Among other changes, Walmart said it will no longer give priority treatment to suppliers owned by women or minorities. The company also will not renew a five-year commitment for a racial equity center set up in 2020 after the police killing of George Floyd. And it pulled out of a prominent gay rights index . Schweyer said the biggest trigger for companies making such changes is simply a reassessment of their legal risk exposure, which began after U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in June 2023 that ended affirmative action in college admissions. Since then, conservative groups using similar arguments have secured court victories against various diversity programs, especially those that steer contracts to minority or women-owned businesses. Most recently, the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty won a victory in a case against the U.S. Department of Transportation over its use of a program that gives priority to minority-owned businesses when it awards contracts. Companies are seeing a big legal risk in continuing with DEI efforts, said Dan Lennington, a deputy counsel at the institute. His organization says it has identified more than 60 programs in the federal government that it considers discriminatory, he said. “We have a legal landscape within the entire federal government, all three branches -- the U.S. Supreme Court, the Congress and the President -- are all now firmly pointed in the direction towards equality of individuals and individualized treatment of all Americans, instead of diversity, equity and inclusion treating people as members of racial groups,” Lennington said. The Trump administration is also likely to take direct aim at DEI initiatives through executive orders and other policies that affect private companies, especially federal contractors. “The impact of the election on DEI policies is huge. It can’t be overstated,” said Jason Schwartz, co-chair of the Labor & Employment Practice Group at law firm Gibson Dunn. With Miller returning to the White House, rolling back DEI initiatives is likely to be a priority, Schwartz said. “Companies are trying to strike the right balance to make clear they’ve got an inclusive workplace where everyone is welcome, and they want to get the best talent, while at the same time trying not to alienate various parts of their employees and customer base who might feel one way or the other. It’s a virtually impossible dilemma,” Schwartz said. A recent survey by Pew Research Center showed that workers are divided on the merits of DEI policies. While still broadly popular, the share of workers who said focusing on workplace diversity was mostly a good thing fell to 52% in the October survey, compared to 56% in a similar survey in February 2023. Rachel Minkin, a research associate at Pew, called it a small but significant shift in short amount of time. There will be more companies pulling back from their DEI policies, but it likely won’t be a retreat across the board, said David Glasgow, executive director of the Meltzer Center for Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging at New York University. “There are vastly more companies that are sticking with DEI," Glasgow said. "The only reason you don’t hear about it is most of them are doing it by stealth. They’re putting their heads down and doing DEI work and hoping not to attract attention.” Glasgow advises organizations to stick to their own core values, because attitudes toward the topic can change quickly in the span of four years. “It’s going to leave them looking a little bit weak if there’s a kind of flip-flopping, depending on whichever direction the political winds are blowing,” he said. One reason DEI programs exist is because without those programs, companies may be vulnerable to lawsuits for traditional discrimination. “Really think carefully about the risks in all directions on this topic,” Glasgow said. Walmart confirmed will no longer consider race and gender as a litmus test to improve diversity when it offers supplier contracts. Walmart says its U.S. businesses sourced more than $13 billion in goods and services from diverse suppliers in fiscal year 2024, including businesses owned by minorities, women and veterans. It was unclear how its relationships with such business would change going forward. Organizations that have partnered with Walmart on its diversity initiatives offered a cautious response. The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, a non-profit that last year named Walmart one of America's top corporation for women-owned enterprises, said it was still evaluating the impact of Walmart's announcement. Pamela Prince-Eason, the president and CEO of the organization, said she hoped Walmart's need to cater to its diverse customer base will continue to drive contracts to women-owned suppliers even if the company has no explicit dollar goals. “I suspect Walmart will continue to have one of the most inclusive supply chains in the World,” Prince-Eason wrote. “Any retailer's ability to serve the communities they operate in will continue to value understanding their customers, (many of which are women), in order to better provide products and services desired and no one understands customers better than Walmart." Walmart's announcement came after the company spoke directly with conservative political commentator and activist Robby Starbuck, who has been going after corporate DEI policies, calling out individual companies on the social media platform X. Several of those companies have subsequently announced that they are pulling back their initiatives, including Ford , Harley-Davidson, Lowe’s and Tractor Supply . Walmart confirmed to The Associated Press that it will better monitor its third-party marketplace items to make sure they don’t feature sexual and transgender products aimed at minors. The company also will stop participating in the Human Rights Campaign’s annual benchmark index that measures workplace inclusion for LGBTQ+ employees. A Walmart spokesperson added that some of the changes were already in progress and not as a result of conversations that it had with Starbuck. RaShawn “Shawnie” Hawkins, senior director of the HRC Foundation’s Workplace Equality Program, said companies that “abandon” their commitments workplace inclusion policies “are shirking their responsibility to their employees, consumers, and shareholders.” She said the buying power of LGBTQ customers is powerful and noted that the index will have record participation of more than 1,400 companies in 2025.Opinion editor’s note: Strib Voices publishes letters from readers online and in print each day. To contribute, click here . ••• Andy Brehm’s Nov. 25 column, “Here’s one way we can help heal our divided country” seems to argue that we need to work on bridging our differences on policy when engaging with friends or family who support the opposite party. Before I can sit down with someone I need to understand how their inner conscience and faith led them to support a particular candidate. I grew up in a small rural farming community, and in my family and Catholic teachings I learned respect and honesty and developed a holistic faith born from Catholic teachings that valued the truth and welcomed everyone wherever they are on their journey. I wonder how I would start the conversation if a friend voted for a candidate who was a convicted felon, sexually assaulted women, saw disabled people as comical and a financial drain on our medical system, and ridiculed military veterans who risked their lives for our country. Did my friend deny these accusations or did they accept these extreme character flaws? Why or how could I engage on policy differences without an understanding of where his values reside? If his character or faith values were totally opposite mine then I would ask God to help me find a starting point. Brehm, we do not live in a utopian society, so rebuilding our relationship with others cannot proceed without a serious course correction of our social and faith-based values. Mike Menzel, Edina ••• How ironic that Brehm should be instructing us on the ways to bring us back together when the individual he voted for displays the exact opposite attitude and behavior. Of course, this has been evident now for more than nine years so it is no surprise. The president-elect promises to jail journalists who do their job investigating the government. “Draining the swamp,” as they say. He is intolerant of and denigrates and threatens political opponents. He calls them the “enemy within.” He does not accept accountability for any lack of truthfulness. As for acknowledging his own fallibility, he is definitely not a “fellow truth-seeker.” All he wants are “yes” persons under him. His aim is to gain power and wealth. That is all. He does not care about the Constitution or rule of law and his failure to sign routine agreements for the transition is recent proof of that. He does not agree to be ethically held to account. The president-elect is the exact opposite of the type of person one would ask one’s children to emulate. He is the exact opposite of a leader who can “heal our divided country.” Such a person would be more akin to Franklin Delano Roosevelt. As much as we hold dear our “other-thinking” family and friends, how can we expect the country to really come together with such malicious leadership? Gary Fifield, St. Paul ••• To Brehm I would reply, “If only.” If only political discourse could be just about policy differences. Mature adults can be friends despite these kinds of differences and should be able to discuss them around the Thanksgiving table. Brehm is right to encourage us to humanize our public policy adversaries and not to claim our friend is “morally reprehensible.” However, Republicans today are led by a morally reprehensible individual. He is the king of “demonizing the opposition.” A vote for Trump validates and normalizes morally reprehensible political and personal behavior that no policy prescriptions can justify or excuse. Rolf Thompson, St. Louis Park ••• To Brehm, regarding the opening paragraph of your Nov. 25 opinion piece: This progressive is not “perplexed” by the results of the presidential election. I am horrified and deeply worried about the effect of another four years of a Trump presidency on the women, children and vulnerable minority populations of this nation. Mary G. Alberts, Eden Prairie ••• I applaud Brehm for his thoughtful and well-written article. Brehm and I worked at the same large law firm in Minneapolis years ago, and he was known for his keen intelligence and genuinely friendly personality. He was also known for having premium seats to the Twins. Any chance that I can buy your tickets for a game next year? That would truly be a transaction across party lines. Thanks in advance, Andy. George Eck, Mound Pass the HEARTS act; save lives Every day, 1,000 people in the U.S. experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital. Only 10% survive. A person can be fine one minute and without a heartbeat the next. It’s critical for people nearby to take immediate action by calling 911, starting CPR and using an automated external defibrillator (AED). Doing this can double or even triple the person’s chance of survival. These actions are especially important in rural Minnesota. During almost three decades as a heart surgeon in Duluth, I’ve seen lifesaving technologies improve my patients’ and community’s health. We’ve had remarkable saves and yet still witness tragedies at schools and extracurriculars where people nearby weren’t prepared to respond. Having a plan in place and knowing what to do can be the difference between life and death. I brought this message to Washington, D.C. in May when I met with lawmakers to encourage them to support federal legislation that would improve the chain of survival in schools. Along with the American Heart Association, cardiac arrest survivors and health care providers, I urged Congress to save lives by passing the HEARTS Act. This bill would provide resources for CPR and AED training and development of school response plans. After a cardiac arrest, the chance of survival drops by 10% for every minute without CPR. Now that the U.S. House has passed the HEARTS Act, we must call upon our senators to act now and provide lifesaving AEDs and CPR training throughout our education system. Every minute counts! Mary Boylan, Duluth Funding transparency needed The front page story on Nov. 25 was appalling ( “Who is watching charter schools?” ). Then, as a former admissions counselor, teacher and public TV executive, I got angry. When did it become automatic that people and organizations in the U.S. could secrete how they spend taxpayers’ funds — my money? No one who receives funds from our government should ever conceal or refuse to reveal to the public how those funds, whether federal or state, are spent. If that openness intrudes on the privacy of some individuals, so be it! I knew when I worked for the state of Minnesota, for the federal government and for a private corporation receiving federal and state grants that our financial records must be complete, accurate and open to public scrutiny. I made sure our bookkeeping and accounting people also knew and that we maintained complete and accurate records. Charter schools that refuse to reveal all records where taxpayer money is involved should not hesitate to reveal them. Transparency will resolve lies and misinformation. Carl Brookins, Roseville ••• Charter schools account for only 8% of the state’s student population, yet according to U.S. News and World Report they make up about 20% of the nation’s top 100 high schools. Where is the Minnesota Star Tribune investigation of our public schools? Once again, Minneapolis Public Schools — despite a massive infusion of money from the state — is projected to be $85 million in the hole for the 2025-26 school year and to reach deficits approaching $100 million in the following four years. In addition, two former St. Paul Public Schools employees — Marie Schrul, former chief financial officer, and Curtis Mahanay, former business systems support manager — have filed a lawsuit against the district claiming they were fired in 2022 for raising concerns about how district leaders were handling finances. Where is the Star Tribune coverage of this lawsuit? [Opinion editor’s note: See “Ousted St. Paul schools finance chief sues district,” Nov. 22.] Charter schools are a tiny part of an education system that needs a complete overhaul by the state Legislature. We are investing billions in education in this state. There needs to be accountability. Jim Piga, Mendota HeightsCroatia's president wins election, exit poll shows

Christopher Nolan’s next film is based on ‘The Odyssey’ Christopher Nolan is following his Oscar-winning “Oppenheimer” with a true epic: Homer’s “The Odyssey.” It will open in theaters on July 17, 2026, Universal Pictures said Monday. Lindsey Bahr, The Associated Press Dec 24, 2024 6:55 AM Dec 24, 2024 7:05 AM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message FILE - Christopher Nolan arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, March 10, 2024, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File) Christopher Nolan is following his Oscar-winning “Oppenheimer” with a true epic: Homer’s “The Odyssey.” It will open in theaters on July 17, 2026, Universal Pictures said Monday. Details remain scarce, but the studio teased that it will be a “mythic action epic shot across the world using brand new IMAX technology.” It will also be the first time that an adaptation of Homer’s saga will play on IMAX film screens. Nolan has been an IMAX enthusiast for years, going back to “The Dark Knight,” and has made his last three films exclusively using large format film and the highest resolution film cameras. For “Oppenheimer,” the first black-and-white IMAX film stock was developed. Nolan hasn’t said specifically what the new technology for “The Odyssey” will be, but earlier this month he told The Associated Press that they’re in an intensive testing phase with IMAX to prepare for the new production. “They have an incredible engineering staff, really brilliant minds doing extraordinary work,” Nolan said. “It’s wonderful to see innovation in the celluloid film arena still happening and happening at the highest level possible.” “The Odyssey” will be Nolan’s second collaboration with Universal Pictures following “Oppenheimer,” which earned nearly $1 billion at the box office and won the filmmaker his first Oscars, including for best director and best picture . Rumors about his next project have been swirling ever since, with near-daily speculations about plot — none of which turned out to be true — and casting. While there are many reports about actors joining the ensemble, none has been officially confirmed by the studio. Lindsey Bahr, The Associated Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message More The Mix Cash back, credit rating boosts: How to use your rent payments to get extra perks Dec 24, 2024 7:00 AM Movie Review: Nicole Kidman commands the erotic office drama 'Babygirl' Dec 24, 2024 6:59 AM Q&A: Robert Eggers and Willem Dafoe reunite for 'Nosferatu' Dec 24, 2024 6:51 AM Featured Flyer

No. 22 Illinois reaches 9 wins for first time in 17 years with 38-28 victory over Northwestern

Crypto entrepreneur Justin Sun on Friday fulfilled a promise he made after spending $6.2 million on an artwork featuring a banana duct-taped to a wall - by eating the fruit. At one of Hong Kong’s priciest hotels, Sun chomped down on a banana in front of dozens of journalists and influencers after giving a speech hailing the work as “iconic” and drew parallels between conceptual art and cryptocurrency. “It’s much better than other bananas,” Sun said after getting his first taste. “It’s really quite good.” Titled “Comedian”, the conceptual work created by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan was sold at a Sotheby’s auction in New York last week, with Sun among seven bidders. Sun said he felt “disbelief” in the first 10 seconds after he won the bid, before realizing “this could become something big”. In the 10 seconds after that, he decided he would eat the banana. “Eating it at a press conference can also become a part of the artwork’s history,” he said Friday. The debut of the edible creation at the 2019 Art Basel show in Miami Beach sparked controversy and raised questions about whether it should be considered art - Cattelan’s stated aim. And Sun on Friday compared conceptual art like “Comedian” to NFT art and decentralized blockchain technology. “Most of its objects and ideas exist as (intellectual property) and on the internet, as opposed to something physical,” he said. ‘Apolitical’ investment Sun this week also became an advisor to World Liberty Financial, a crypto initiative backed by US president-elect Donald Trump, following a $30 million investment. He earlier wrote on social media platform X that he was “excited to help make crypto great again in the US” with Trump’s leadership. On Friday Sun denied that the investment - which made him the largest investor in the project - was an attempt to influence Trump or American politics. “We are apolitical,” Sun told AFP in an interview. “Me (serving) as advisor also contribute a lot of value... I can be a great bridge for traditional financial and the (decentralized finance) industry.” The 34-year-old crypto businessman was last year charged by the US Securities and Exchange Commission with fraud and securities law violation in relation to his crypto project Tron. Sun has rejected the allegations and the case is ongoing. At a function room at the Peninsula hotel in Hong Kong, two men dressed as auction house staff stood in front of a featureless wall with the yellow banana offering the only splash of color. Sun said he only recently decided to bid for the artwork, adding he had “dumb questions” such as whether the banana had decayed and how to value the work. The artwork owner is given a certificate of authenticity that the work was created by Cattelan as well as instructions about how to replace the fruit when it goes bad. Sun told AFP that his artwork may well benefit from the same kind of speculative craze usually associated with crypto. “I think (the price) probably is going to go up even more in the future, just like Bitcoin,” he said. — AFP