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'Quite a debate': Alabama, Miami first teams out of CFP fieldOpposition fighters are at Damascus' gates. Who are they and what now?Leak Suggests Switch 2 Will Finally Fix The Original’s Most Notorious Problem

Elated Arteta revels in Arsenal’s thumping win at SportingManchester City manager Pep Guardiola admitted his side are “fragile” after letting a three-goal lead slip against Feyenoord . Having lost five games in succession across all competitions ahead of Tuesday night’s Champions League tie at the Etihad Stadium, the hosts looked on course to finally bounce back in some style. An Erling Haaland brace sandwiched between an Ilkay Gundogan goal had the hosts 3-0 up after 53 minutes and it seemed that a confidence-boosting victory was on the way going into Sunday’s huge Premier League clash with Liverpool at Anfield. However, City somehow managed to throw the victory away as they conceded three goals in the space of just 14 minutes with self-inflicted mistakes proving to be their undoing once again. Despite ending the run of consecutive defeats, Guardiola agreed that the result felt like another loss and wasn’t pleased with how his side capitulated. "We gave away the actions. The game was fine at 3-0, we were playing good and did not concede much [chances], but we have conceded many goals because we are not stable. We gave them the first and another one, and that's why it's difficult,” he told Amazon Prime Video. "We have lost a lot of games lately, because we are fragile and we need a victory, the game was good for the confidence. We were playing at a good level. “I don’t know if it’s a mental problem, their first goal cannot happen and the second as well, and after that we are desperate to win, desperate to do well. We do well but we don’t win games.” Guardiola did still praise the positive aspects of the game; Haaland on the scoresheet, Rico Lewis’ performance and everything prior to conceding the three goals, but acknowledged that the final result is all that matters. “There are a lot of good things,” he added. “But after 3-3, nothing much to say. We played a really good game but at that level we can not give them away.”

Syrians poured into streets in celebration on Sunday after a stunning rebel advance reached the capital, ending the Assad family’s 50 years of iron rule . Russian state news agencies were reporting that President Bashar Assad and his family had arrived in Moscow and were given asylum. Russia said Assad left the country after negotiations with rebel groups and that he had given instructions to transfer power peacefully. Joyful crowds gathered in central squares in Damascus, waving the Syrian revolutionary flag. Others ransacked the presidential palace and residence. Abu Mohammed al-Golani , a former al-Qaida commander who cut ties with the group years ago leads the biggest rebel faction in Syria and is poised to chart the country’s future. He made his first public appearance since fighters entered the Damascus suburbs Saturday, at the capital’s sprawling Umayyad Mosque, and called himself by his given name, Ahmad al-Sharaa. He said Assad’s fall was “a victory to the Islamic nation.” The rapidly developing events have shaken the region. Lebanon said it was closing all its land border crossings with Syria except for one that links Beirut with Damascus. Jordan closed a border crossing with Syria, too. Israel has issued warnings to villages in southern Syria and its forces seized a buffer zone in the Golan Heights. Here's the Latest: Russian state news agencies reported that ousted Syrian President Bashar Assad has arrived in Moscow with his family and been given asylum. The agencies, Tass and RIA, cited an unidentified Kremlin source. The Associated Press was not immediately able to verify the reports but had contacted the Kremlin for comment. CAIRO — The Arab League on Sunday condemned Israel for taking advantage of Syrian President Bashar Assad's downfall by moving into more Syrian territory. Hours after Assad’s overthrow, Israel announced it had seized a buffer zone in the Golan Heights that was established by a cease-fire agreement with Syria in 1974. In a statement, the Arab League said Israel illegally sought to occupy more territories. But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the 50-year-old agreement regarding Syrian territory had collapsed and that Syrian troops had abandoned their positions, necessitating Israel taking over as a “temporary defensive position.” UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations secretary-general is marking the “fall of the dictatorial regime” in Syria and says the future of the country is “is a matter for the Syrians to determine.” A statement by Antonio Guterres also called for calm and the protection of the rights of all Syrians as well as of diplomatic and consular facilities in Syria. He said there is much work ahead to ensure an “orderly political transition to renewed institutions,” and he called on the international community to ensure that “any political transition is inclusive and comprehensive and that it meets the legitimate aspirations of the people of Syria, in all their diversity.” KYIV, Ukraine - Ukraine’s top diplomat on Sunday responded to Assad’s ouster by describing him as a “dictator” who relied on Russia to prop up his rule - a reference to the military campaign Moscow has waged in Syria since September 2015, teaming up with Iran to allow Assad’s government to fight armed opposition groups and reclaim control over most of the country. "Assad has fallen. This has always been and will be the case with all dictators who bet on Putin. He always betrays those who rely on him,” foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said in a post on X. In a separate update on the social network, Sybiha said Kyiv was ready to take steps towards restoring relations with Syria, severed months into Russia’s full-scale invasion of the neighboring state. Kyiv broke off diplomatic ties after Damascus in June 2022 recognized Kremlin-occupied parts of eastern Ukraine as independent territories, in a move welcomed by Moscow and decried by the West as a clear violation of Ukrainian sovereignty. JERUSALEM — The Israeli military has issued a warning to residents of five villages and towns in southern Syria to stay inside their homes for their safety. “The fighting in your area is forcing the IDF to act,” the IDF’s Arabic-language spokesman said on X. The military didn’t respond to questions. Earlier, Israel said its troops had seized a buffer zone in the Golan Heights established in 1974, saying it was to protect Israeli residents after Syrian troops abandoned their positions. Defense Minister Israel Katz said on X that the IDF has been instructed to “seize the buffer zone and control points to ensure the protection of all Israeli communities in the Golan Heights – Jewish and Druze – so that they are not exposed to threats from the other side.” Israel captured the Golan in the 1967 Mideast war and later annexed it. The international community, except for the United States, views it as occupied. BEIRUT - The leader of the largest insurgent group in Syria visited the Syrian capital’s sprawling Umayyad Mosque and declared that the victory against President Bashar Assad “is a victory to the Islamic nation.” Ahmad al-Sharaa, who was formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, made his first public appearance and remarks since fighters entered Damascus. He told hundreds of people at the historic mosque that Assad had made Syria “a farm for Iran’s greed.” He added that Assad made Syria a base for the illegal amphetamine Captagon that brought cash to Assad’s circles. Al-Sharaa, the leader of the jihadi Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, said Sunday that the victory was achieved because of “God and the blood of martyrs.” He said that he left Syria 20 years ago and since then his heart has longed for this movement. LONDON — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed the end of Assad’s rule as he called for peace and the protection of civilians. “The Syrian people have suffered under Assad’s barbaric regime for too long and we welcome his departure,” Starmer said. He said the U.K. was focused on a political solution to restore peace and stability. “We call on all sides to protect civilians and minorities and ensure essential aid can reach the most vulnerable in the coming hours and days,” he said. AMMAN, Jordan — The vast majority of the Jordanian people are welcoming the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime and the success of the Syrian revolution. “There is no doubt that I felt overwhelming joy at the fall of the Assad regime," said Badi Al-Rafaia, Engineer, union activist and member of the Islamic Action Front. "There is no doubt that we are happy with what happened in Syria, happy with the success of the revolution, happy with the Syrian people getting rid of an oppressor and criminal who treated the Syrian people and made the Syrian state a failed state.” Al-Rafaia said that Jordan is benefiting from what happened in Syria, and "we hope that Jordan will help the revolution succeed and not work against it.” Amman resident Muhab al-Majali said the fall of the Assad regime is “The end of every unjust and tyrannical rule, and more than that, it mortgaged the country and its people to the Iranians, who abandoned it in minutes... I believe that the future is beautiful and prosperous for the Syrians.” BERLIN — The International Committee of the Red Cross is calling for safe humanitarian access and protection of civilians in Syria after the fall of Bashir Assad’s government. “Our teams in Syria, including in Damascus, have been closely monitoring the fast-evolving security and humanitarian situation in coordination with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent,” the ICRC’s head of delegation in Syria, Stephan Sakalian, said in a written statement Sunday. The ICRC is “responding wherever possible, with further efforts underway, as hundreds of thousands of people need care and humanitarian assistance,” he said. Sakalian called “on all parties to urgently enable safe and unhindered access for medical and humanitarian workers to reach those in need, to protect civilians, and to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law.” BAGHDAD — The Iraqi government said in a statement Sunday that it “supports all international and regional efforts seeking to open a dialogue” for Syria “leading to the adoption of a pluralistic constitution that preserves the human and civil rights of Syrians, and supports cultural, ethnic and religious diversity.” The statement from government spokesperson Bassem al-Awadi, said that Iraq understands “the necessity of respecting the free will of all Syrians, and stresses that the security of Syria, the unity of its territories, and the preservation of its independence are of utmost importance, not only for Iraq but also for its connection to the security and stability of the region.” It cautioned against “interfering in Syria’s internal affairs, or supporting one party for the benefit of another.” Iraq, which has a close relationship with Iran - once a strong ally of former Syrian President Bashar Assad - has taken in some 2,000 Syrian army soldiers who fled the country amid the advance of armed opposition groups. CAIRO — The head of Yemen’s internationally recognized government welcomed the fall of the government of President Bashar Assad of Syria. “It’s a historic moment,” Rashad al-Alimi, who chairs the ruling presidential council, wrote on X platform of Assad’s downfall. “It’s time for the Iranian regime to stop meddling in Yemen, respect its sovereignty and identity.” Al-Alimi, who is backed by Saudi Arabia, was referring to Iran’s support of Houthi rebels who are at war with Yemen’s internationally recognized government for a decade. DAMASCUS — Families wandered through the high-ceilinged halls of the presidential palace in Damascus on Sunday, along with some armed men. Some paused to take family portraits or selfies on the few remaining couches against the backdrop of mosaiced walls, while others walked out with chairs and other items under their arms. On the massive parking lot out front, cars drove in circles honking ecstatically. In central Damascus’ Umayyad Square, drivers passing by also honked jubilantly, while young men piled onto a tank abandoned in the square. But for some the celebration was bittersweet. “I am very happy, but this happiness will not be completed until I can see my son out of the prison and know where is he is,” said Damascus resident Bassam Masr. “I have been searching for him for two hours - he has been detained for 13 years.” TEHRAN, Iran — Iran says the Syrian people should decide their country’s future “without destructive, coercive foreign intervention.” The Foreign Ministry statement issued Sunday marked Iran’s first official reaction to the overthrow of President Bashar Assad, who it had strongly backed through nearly 14 years of civil war. Assad’s government was a close ally of Iran that served as a crucial conduit between it and Lebanon’s Hezbollah. The rebels who toppled Assad view Iran as a hostile foreign influence, and the abandoned Iranian Embassy in Damascus was ransacked as they entered the city. The Foreign Ministry statement said Iran supports Syria’s unity and national sovereignty, and hopes to see “the end of military conflicts, the prevention of terrorist activities and the start of a national dialogue” with the participation of all groups. “It is expected that the wise and farsighted relations of the two nations will continue based on mutual ties and interests,” the statement said. TEL AVIV, Israel – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that Israeli forces have seized a buffer zone in the Golan Heights established by a 1974 ceasefire agreement with Syria. He spoke from an overlook near the border between Syria and the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, after Syrian rebels tore through the country and dramatically ended Assad’s rule on Sunday morning. Netanyahu said the 50-year-old agreement had collapsed and that Syrian troops had abandoned their positions, necessitating the Israeli takeover as a “temporary defensive position.” Israel captured the Golan Heights in the 1967 Mideast war and annexed it. The international community, except for the United States, views it as occupied Syrian territory. Satellite images analyzed by the Associated Press show that as early as September, Israel began construction of what could possibly be a new road right along the so-called Alpha Line that separates the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights from Syria . The United Nations confirmed that Israeli troops entered the demilitarized zone during the work. The United Nations maintains a peacekeeping force in the demilitarized zone called the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, or UNDOF, with around 1,100 peacekeepers from Fiji, India, Kazakhstan, Nepal, and Uruguay. After the 1973 Mideast war, the U.N. Secretary Council voted to create UNDOF to patrol a roughly 400 square kilometer (155 square mile) demilitarized zone and maintain the peace there. MASNAA, Lebanon — At Lebanon’s Masnaa crossing into Syria, the mood was festive Sunday with some local Lebanese residents handing out congratulatory sweets to Syrians lined up to return to their country. Sami Abdel-Latif, a refugee from Hama who was heading to Syria to join his wife and four children, said while the future in Syria is still uncertain, “anything is better than Bashar.” He said he expected some chaos initially but that eventually the situation would settle down. “Look at Aleppo now,” he said, referring to the first major city taken over by opposition forces more than a week ago, where life has continued more or less as normal. Abdel-Latif, a construction worker, said he is also hoping that there will now be plentiful work in Syria to rebuild. Malak Matar, who was preparing to return to Damascus, said, “This is a feeling we’ve been waiting 14 years for. “You feel yourself psychologically free - you can express yourself,” he said. “The country is free and the barriers have been broken down.” Now, he said, “Syrians have to create a state that is well-organized and take care of their country. It’s a new phase.” DAMASCUS, Syria — An Associated Press journalist in Damascus reported airstrikes in the area of the Mezzeh military airport, southwest of the capital Sunday. The airport has previously been targeted in Israeli airstrikes, but it was not immediately clear who launched Sunday's strike. The Israeli military refused to comment on the airport strike. Israel often does not publicly claim responsibility for attacks in Syria. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based war monitor, reported that Israeli warplanes also targeted warehouses belonging to the Syrian army’s Fourth Division and another former military site outside of Damascus Sunday. On Saturday and Sunday, the Israeli military sent additional troops to the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights to bolster Israel’s presence along the border between Israel and Syria. Agricultural areas along the border were declared closed military zones and some schools shifted to online classes in anticipation of unrest. MOSCOW — Russia’s Foreign Ministry claimed Sunday that Bashar Assad had left Syria after negotiations with rebel groups, and gave “instructions” to “transfer power peacefully.” In a post on the Telegram messaging app on Sunday, the ministry said Moscow had not directly participated in these talks. It also said it has been following the “dramatic events” in Syria “with extreme concern." It also said Russian troops stationed in Syria have been put on high alert and that as of early afternoon Sunday, there was “no serious threat” to the security of Russia’s military bases there. Russia has waged a military campaign in Syria since September 2015, teaming up with Iran to allow Assad’s government to fight armed opposition groups and reclaim control over most of the country. While Russia now concentrates the bulk of its military resources in Ukraine, it has maintained a military foothold in Syria and keeps troops at its bases there.The University of Arizona’s Eller College is launching an accelerated MBA program to allow experienced professionals and recent graduates to complete the studies in one year, half the traditional time. The program, spanning 10 months, will begin in summer 2025 for its first cohort of students, offering them a chance to pursue a master's of business administration at a reduced cost and with less time away from professional jobs. “This is a national trend. The interest in a two-year MBA has been waning, because it’s extremely costly for the student to leave the workforce for two years and to give up that revenue and join a full-time MBA program,” said Jayanthi Sunder, vice dean of programs and strategic initiatives at Eller College of Management, in an interview Thursday with the Arizona Daily Star. “But at the same time, there are students who want that immersive experience of a full-time, in-person program," which UA's new one-year MBA will offer, Sunder said. "Not everyone wants to do a weekend program or an evening program. So, some of them want to have that networking opportunity, that face-to-face feedback in their classes and what not.” The one-year program will now be the only option of a full-time MBA course at the college, said Pamela Jorden, assistant dean of MBA academic operations. The previously offered two-year program has been paused for the time being, she said. Students at the Eller College of Management at the University of Arizona. As a business school in a changing market, Eller must be flexible and recognize and meet student needs, Jorden said. While certain schools were closing down their full-time MBA programs, Eller wanted to “not close it, but fix it” and make its ranked program more marketable, she said. Eller's current full-time MBA program is ranked No. 26 this year among public universities and 50th overall by U.S. News & World Report. The idea is to appeal to students who are ambitious, driven and willing to work hard for one year and turbocharge their careers, Sunder said. “The biggest cost a student faces going into a two-year program is two years of lost income,” said Sunder. “Money is a huge deal, especially when it comes to MBAs,” agreed Ayusha Pendse, an Eller student pursuing a dual degree in Management Information Systems and an MBA. While the two-year MBA program has now been paused, Jorden said the college still offers students the option to do a dual degree where they could complete two degrees in two years, one of them being an MBA. “We believe, as the flagship university of the state, we need to provide them with the opportunities to make sure they stay in Arizona, get jobs in Arizona” and keep talent in the state, said Sunder. Sunder said Eller will be the first college in the state, and one of the early ones in the country, to offer a one-year MBA program. Curriculum The one-year MBA program will require students to complete “39 units of comprehensive business education,” delving into core business mastery, effective business communication, data and analytics training, real-world experience, and leadership and career development. Each part was curated with support from research and input from faculty and current students, administrators say. The overall tuition and fees for the program is $32,620 for Arizona residents and $54,874 for non-Arizona residents. This is less than the $52,244 tuition paid by Arizona residents in the two-year MBA's last class of 2025. Students at the Eller College of Management at the University of Arizona. The program will be divided into three semesters — summer, fall and spring. The summer semester will be remote learning, while the fall and spring will be in-person at Eller’s main campus. The previous two-year MBA program was spread over four semesters. The summer semester was designed to be remote due to a couple of reasons. The first is the visa issues faced by international students, which could hinder them from getting into the country by July, said Jorden. An added benefit of the online classes during the summer is to give recently graduated students the opportunity to pursue an internship over the summer, getting them real-world experience as well, said Sunder. While the core courses of the one-year program have been kept the same as the two-year program, with the addition of one marketing course, the number of electives has been reduced, said Jorden. Since the accelerated program cuts down the time students get for networking, job hunting and portfolio building, Jorden said it is flexible and customizable. If students feel one year is short, they can opt for a dual degree and it doesn’t change much for them, she said. However, students choosing the dual degree option will have to pay the dual degree tuition. The one-year MBA degree as it stands now is not a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) degree, but Jorden said Eller is working to get it that title down the line. The idea is to attract students and professionals from STEM backgrounds as well as Tucson leaders, she said. Among the programs previously offered by Eller, the only ones which qualified as STEM degrees were the MBA dual degrees. The evening MBA in Tucson, the executive MBA in Phoenix, the online MBA or the MBA concentrations and specializations were not STEM. Applications The application requirements for the one-year program won’t be very different, but will have a little more flexibility in terms of examinations such as GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) or GMAT (Graduate Management Aptitude Test), depending on each student's background, said Jorden. “We’re still looking for high GPA (Grade Point Average). We have to make sure they can do the program, and we’re not going to set people up to fail,” she continued. “We want to make sure they’ve got some quantitative skills." In certain instances, a GRE or GMAT will be required, "because we want again to make sure that the rigor of the program is something that they can do." Students at the Eller College of Management at the University of Arizona. Applications for the program’s first summer 2025 cohort were opened on Nov. 28. Upcoming deadlines are Dec. 15 for Round 1 applicants, Jan. 15 for Round 2 and international applicants, Feb. 1 for Round 3 and April 1 for Round 4. "The rounds are in place to encourage submission of applications, and it allows us to set expectations on when they should hear from us," wrote Janet Flores, the college's senior director of marketing and communications, in an email to the Star Friday. "The deadlines are chosen to spread out the submissions and straddle holidays. We admit on a rolling basis. The advantage to applying in the earlier rounds is that more seats and scholarships are available." May 31 is the "domestic student deadline," for U.S. citizens or green card holders who won't need a student visa to attend the program. International students have an earlier deadline to accommodate their visa processes. “Our recruiting team is really good and very experienced, and they are ready to talk to students,” said Sunder. “So, if you’re even thinking, ‘Oh, I’m not sure if this is the right program for me,’ I’d say schedule a call and talk to them. Because, they’d be happy to say, ‘No, you’re the perfect student for it,’ or they would say, ‘go out and work for two years and come back.’” Application information is available at eller.arizona.edu/programs/mba/one-year/admissions . Reporter Prerana Sannappanavar covers higher education for the Arizona Daily Star and Tucson.com . Contact her at psannappa1@tucson.com . Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Higher Education Reporter

Syra Health to Present at NobleCon20The New York Jets have now officially gone 14 years without making the playoffs, which is an active record for the NFL . The embarrassment doesn't stop there, though: it is an active record for virtually all major American professional sports leagues, including the NBA , NHL , MLB , and the WNBA. With a loss today at Miami, the Jets now have been eliminated from the playoffs for the 14th consecutive season, extending the longest active drought across the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB and the WNBA. pic.twitter.com/Sxj0vpaXC0 More News: Former First-Round Pick Jets LB Likely Out For Rest Of Season The Jets' playoff hopes were officially extinguished in a gut-wrenching 32-26 overtime loss to the Miami Dolphins, a game they had been on the brink of winning. With just seconds left in regulation, New York had driven deep into Dolphins territory, setting up what appeared to be a game-winning field goal. However, after exchanging field goals to end regulation, the game took a devastating turn in overtime. Miami received the ball first, and Tua Tagovailoa led the Dolphins downfield, capping the drive with a touchdown pass to Jonnu Smith, who had been silent throughout regulation but caught three crucial passes on the decisive possession. The Jets (3-10) were eliminated from playoff contention, while the Dolphins (6-7) kept their postseason hopes alive. The loss marked the Jets' fourth consecutive defeat and their ninth in the last 10 games, extending their streak of futility in Miami to nine straight losses. Despite holding an eight-point lead in the fourth quarter, the Jets once again failed to finish strong, sealing their fate and ending any hopes of a late-season rally. This loss makes the Jets the team to go longest without making the playoffs in active professional leagues, which has to sting even more than the other major losses of the season. To be fair, the season has been an extraordinarily chaotic one for the Jets and it is difficult to imagine any team performing well under the circumstances. In late November, the team fired general manager Joe Douglas, just six weeks after dismissing head coach Robert Saleh. More News: Jets Owner Could Give Up Team To Join Donald Trump Administration To fill the void, defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich was promoted to interim head coach, where he wasted no time reshuffling the coaching staff. He demoted offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett and promoted Todd Downing to offensive play-caller, hoping to spark some life into a struggling offense. In an effort to ignite the offense, the Jets made a major move by acquiring Davante Adams from the Las Vegas Raiders, which has not paid off quite as well as they might have hoped. However, owner Woody Johnson had considered even bolder changes earlier in the season, as the team struggled to find its rhythm. After a dismal 10-9 loss to the Denver Broncos in Week 4, Johnson reportedly floated the idea of benching Aaron Rodgers in favor of Tyrod Taylor, citing concerns that Rodgers' performance was hindering the team's progress. While the organization has denied these rumors, the team's current 14-year losing streak will likely cause some shakeups for next season and it's anyone guess whether Rodgers will stick around in 2025. For more on the NFL , head to Newsweek Sports .

(Bloomberg) -- Wicked and Gladiator II, two of the year’s most-anticipated films, brought in a combined $168 million in weekend sales at US and Canadian theaters, kicking off what’s likely to be a strong holiday season for cinemas. Universal Pictures’ film version of the hit Broadway musical, Wicked finished in first place with $112.5 million in ticket sales, researcher Comscore Inc. said Monday. Gladiator II, Paramount Global’s sequel to the 2000 best picture winner, grossed $55 million, to finish second. The simultaneous release of two big-budget Hollywood films is reminiscent of last year’s “Barbenheimer” weekend, when Barbie and Oppenheimer drove scores of moviegoers to cinemas. Their combined $245 million opening weekend was a much-needed shot in the arm for theaters and the films’ respective studios. This year, the hashtag #Glicked was trending on social media, although it didn’t have quite the same pull as 2023, which saw tens of thousands of costumed moviegoers watch the unlikely pairing of Barbie and Oppenheimer as a double feature. “The thing that’s really encouraging to see is the critical reaction scores for Wicked are tremendous across every demographic, which points to a very long run at the box office over the Thanksgiving quarter and frankly well into next year,” Jim Orr, Universal’s president of domestic theatrical distribution, said in an interview. The movie sold an especially high number of tickets in areas such as Salt Lake City, where family-friendly fare often performs well at the box office, Orr said. Wicked, made by Comcast Corp.’s film division, is the first of two films in a series, with the second scheduled for November 2025. The picture, directed by Jon Chu, stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo as young sorceresses in the fictional Land of Oz who later become the Good Witch of the North and the Wicked Witch of the West, respectively. It scored a robust 90% approval from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. It was forecast to generate about $130 million in its opening weekend, according to an estimate by Boxoffice Pro. Gladiator II stars Paul Mescal as a slave-turned-warrior fighting to vanquish corruption in ancient Rome. Ridley Scott, 86, returned as director. The film had a 71% average score with professional reviewers. Paramount forecast sales of $60 million, while Boxoffice Pro projected that the picture would take in about $70 million. “I’m very bullish about how the film holds, we captured a decent percentage of the younger audience that wasn’t part of the legacy audience for the original,” Chris Aronson, Paramount’s president of domestic theatrical distribution, said in an interview. “There’s nothing but family films ahead, and we as an R-rated action movie are an alternative.” The domestic box office is down 11% from 2023, according to data from Comscore. That’s a reflection of the two strikes last year by Hollywood actors and writers that pushed back the release of some films. Last year’s holiday releases featured some notable disappointments, however, including Walt Disney Co.’s Wish and The Color Purple from Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. This year, the Thanksgiving to New Year’s box office could be stronger with Disney’s Moana 2 and Mufasa: The Lion King both projected to open to big numbers. Bob Bagby, the chief executive officer the B&B Theatres chain and chairman of the National Association of Theatre Owners, said in an interview that a young family friend pledged to see Wicked in cinemas at least twice more. “Our lobbies were full of guests in pink and green and of course a few dressed like gladiators, and this is just the beginning of a fantastic holiday season,” Bagby said. (Updates with final weekend totals.) More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com ©2024 Bloomberg L.P.PARIS >> President-elect Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukraine’s leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy held talks in Paris today, brought together by a grand ceremony to mark the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral. Macron convened the trilateral meeting ahead of an evening event he was hosting to celebrate the cathedral’s restoration five years after it was ravaged by fire. Zelenskyy and European leaders have been concerned that Trump, who takes office next month, could withdraw U.S. military aid to Ukraine at a crucial juncture in Kyiv’s battle to repel Russia. Zelenskyy said the meeting was “good and productive” and that the three men agreed to continue working together. “President Trump is, as always, resolute. I thank him,” Zelenskyy wrote on social media platform X. “We all want this war to end as soon as possible and in a just way.” Trump was on his first trip overseas since winning last month’s presidential election and the visit to Paris was seen as offering Macron an early opportunity to play the role of mediator between Europe and the incoming president, a role the French leader has relished in the past. Macron is a strong supporter of the NATO alliance and Ukraine’s fight, while Trump feels European nations need to pay more for their common defense. He has said a negotiated settlement is needed to end the Ukraine war. Arriving at the Elysee Palace, Trump told Macron they had enjoyed “really great success” working together during his first term in office. “And it certainly seems like the world is going a little crazy right now. And we’ll be talking about that,” Trump added. Trump gave Zelenskyy a firm handshake and patted him on the back before Macron stood between them and Trump smiled for the camera. The meeting between the three men lasted about 20 minutes. By inviting Trump to the reopening of Notre Dame, Macron was repeating a personalized approach that had some limited success during Trump’s first term, said Heather Conley, senior adviser to the board of the German Marshall Fund, which promotes U.S.-European ties. “Mr. Macron knows Mr. Trump greatly appreciates the pomp, circumstance and grandeur of state and he provides it to him in abundance,” Conley said. Trump later joined world leaders, royals and business tycoons for a ceremony that got underway with the tolling of Notre Dame’s great bourdon bell. Trump, who will be sworn in on Jan. 20, has already held discussions with a number of world leaders and members of his team are trying to get up to speed on a number of world crises, including Ukraine and the Middle East. Trump, a Republican, was in power when Notre Dame was devastated by fire in 2019 and visited France four times while president from 2017-2021, including D-Day anniversary ceremonies in 2019. “Symbolically, both Mr. Trump’s presidency and Notre Dame have been restored in approximately the same time period. His visit to Paris is also the opening salvo of his return to the world stage, further diminishing the final days of the Biden administration,” Conley said. President Joe Biden’s wife, first lady Jill Biden, was representing the United States at the Notre Dame event. Republican strategist Doug Heye said Trump would convey a statesman-like position in Paris. “It’s not images of him at Mar-a-Lago,” Heye said, referring to Trump’s Florida home where he has spent the bulk of his time since the election. “This is the biggest event of the world and he’ll be peer-to-peer with other leaders.” Macron, who is grappling with a deep political crisis at home after his government was ousted by parliament this week, pursued a non-confrontational approach toward Trump during the latter’s first term, hoping that by engaging with him he could win concessions. But as the years passed, policy decisions on climate, taxation and Iran in particular caused friction between the two leaders. By the end it was a more fractious relationship. There could well be disputes in Trump’s second administration, fueled by Trump’s desire to impose sweeping tariffs on Europe and other U.S. trade partners, and disagreement over how to handle the Ukraine-Russia conflict. Macron invited Trump to the annual Bastille Day military parade in Paris in July 2017, a spectacle that inspired Trump to order up his own military parade in Washington to mark America’s Independence Day in 2019. Trump hosted Macron at a White House state dinner in 2018, but a year later the two quarreled over comments Macron made about the state of NATO. “Trump coming to Paris is a ‘good coup’ by Emmanuel Macron,” said Gerard Araud, a former French ambassador to Washington. “It is indispensable to have a direct relationship with the only man who counts in the Trump administration, Trump himself.”1 of 4 2 of 4 Get the best of Vancouver in your inbox, every Tuesday and Thursday. Sign up for our free newsletter . It’s been a long time coming for Vancouver’s Taylor Swift fans. After a handful of early The Eras Tour announcements skipped YVR altogether, Vancouver was left wondering: would Swift ever come our way? Then, just over a year ago, she announced she’d be heading to BC Place for three shows—the grand finale of her whole tour. And the wait was certainly worth it for 60,000 lucky Swifties on night two (December 7). As I approached my seat, I saw a familiar set. Those who have been following The Eras Tour on social media will recognize the landscape screen stretching the entire width of the stage, featuring a runway down the middle for Swift and her backup vocalists, band, and dancers to do what they do best: blow our minds. Having watched the live concert movie in theatres in October 2023 and studied the setlist, I entered the Eras experience well researched, but still very curious about how the live, in-person model would vary from what I already understood about this history-making tour. I’ve been a Swift fan for a long time. Fearless was the second CD I ever received; I was 10 years old, often bringing it along on long car drives and insisting it be played on our household boombox at least once a day. Fearless (Taylor’s Version) is still in my daily listening rotation. This foundational album has taken on new meanings as I’ve aged (I’m now 26), similar to the experience of many Swifties who have grown up to her music. More than 15 years later, while my anticipation for The Eras Tour was full of excitement, it wasn’t without reservations. Admittedly, Swift’s more recent releases haven’t captured much of my interest since Lover , which dates back to 2019. But with my wrists adorned with friendship bracelets and an energy of hopeful optimism buzzing through the crowd, I basked in the glorious moment of girlhood I found myself in, grateful that despite the various levels of fandom that can be found at The Eras Tour, we’re all grounded by a formative experience found in Swift’s music at one point in our lives. Opener Gracie Abrams proved her worth with a great set. Abrams has achieved incredible success with chart-topping singles like “I Love you, I’m Sorry” taking over Tiktok (more on that later). As she left the stage, the lights went up and the pregame playlist resumed. Soon, “Applause” by Lady GaGa boomed through the speakers and the crowd erupted. Angela Vannatter. As the onstage clock struck 00:00, a mashup of some of Swift’s most beloved songs began to play, creating a hypnotic soundscape with kaleidoscopic colours as cast members entered the stage holding multicoloured sails. BC Place reached new sonic heights as Swift met Vancouver by belting, “It’s you and me, that’s my whole world” from “Miss Americana & the Heartbreak Prince”. They were the most fitting lyrics to begin what would be one of the city’s most memorable evenings. It began with the Lover era and then headed into Fearless , with the audience lighting up the stadium with wristbands and phones, painting a golden picture for favourites like “Love Story” and “You Belong with Me”. One lucky kid was soon gifted Red ’s “22” hat, leading us to the Speak Now era—with Swift stepping onstage in the most breathtaking ball gown, glittering in all her nostalgic glory with “Enchanted”. https://www.instagram.com/p/DDT15DvRsad Aftering thundering singles from Reputation , we reached Folklore and Evermore , albums reminiscent of quieter pandemic times. Going in, I had heard whispers of a fan surprise being organized for Swift after “Champagne Problems”. Once the song concluded, Vancouver fans greeted Taylor with a spontaneous roar of cheers, thank yous, screams of jubilation, and applause that lasted over four minutes. With much of The Eras Tour being spoiled ahead of the Vancouver dates, authentic, organic moments like this were what made the concert experience particularly memorable. Swift began to tear up in genuine awe of the city’s appreciation for her. It was a real, genuine exchange between an artist and her fans that you simply couldn’t replicate. Angela Vannatter. Adding to these moments of wonder, Swift fans knew that following the newly-added Tortured Poets Department era (the album released earlier this year, once the tour was already well underway), the setlist would include two surprise songs unique to each night. While I was trying to remain present in each moment, the anticipation built throughout the evening about which surprise songs she had selected for us. We all knew it was coming. For our show, Gracie Abrams was welcomed back onstage for a mash-up duet of her hit single “I Love You, I’m Sorry” and Swift’s “Last Kiss”. Swift then moved to the piano to create an epic combination of “The Tortured Poets Department” and Folklore ’s “Maroon”. I was touched by the thoughtfulness Swift took to personalize these memories for her audience, reaching deep into her discography to create an experience that was unique and personal. Vancouver fans, myself included, were certainly not disappointed. https://www.instagram.com/p/DDT3cRLRBdM As Swift’s masterful songwriting and beaming ballads carried us through the night, I couldn’t take my eyes off her dazzling wardrobe selections—all unique bodysuits and outfits tailored to the look and feel of each era. Every song was strengthened by carefully choreographed numbers from Swift’s 15 backup dancers, all bursting with personality, knowing exactly where their cameras were in order to help reach every corner of the stadium. I was pleased that even the eras I was most hesitant about soon won me over with their bulletproof performances. Angela Vannatter. As I exited the arena after the show, I overheard a mother remind her daughter that “just so you know, not all concerts are like that.” Ain’t that the truth. Read our recap of night one here .

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