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“Wonka’ a bit wonky, but worthy

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:34:04 GMT

In a year of “Barbie,” Harry Styles and Taylor Swift, we now get Timothee Chalamet as Willy Wonka. Wonka, of course, was created by the now problematic British author Roald Dahl in his 1964 novel “Charlie & the Chocolate Factory.” Dahl has recently been accused of antisemitism and racism.Wonka has been portrayed previously by the great Gene Wilder in “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory,” a film I have never liked, directed by documentary filmmaker Mel Stuart (“Wattstax”). More recently, Johnny Depp played Wonka in Tom Burton’s 2005 effort “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” another film I was not enthusiastic about, although at least it was deeply weird.“Wonka,” which was directed by Paul King of those pleasant enough “Paddington” films, is certainly sugary enough,  maybe too sugary. It is a prequel to “Charlie & the Chocolate Factory,” an “origin film” co-written by King and his co-writer Simon Farnaby (“Paddington 2”). Wonka first appears on the mast of a ship,...

Dear Abby: Alzheimer’s treatment needs volunteers

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:34:04 GMT

Dear Abby: After decades of research, I’m thrilled with the recent major progress being made in treatments for people who already have symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. I’m hoping that, one day, we will be able to prevent people from developing memory impairment and dementia.Brain changes, including the buildup of a toxic protein into amyloid plaques, begin up to 20 years before a person notices any symptoms. This “asymptomatic” stage may be the perfect time to test treatments aiming to delay or prevent symptoms before they begin.This is why we are conducting the AHEAD Study, an investigational trial of lecanemab, an FDA-approved medication for mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease. The AHEAD Study is testing whether starting lecanemab in those with amyloid plaques BEFORE symptoms start can help prevent cognitive decline.As a neurologist, a clinical researcher and someone who has seen Alzheimer’s in my own fam...

Column: Will Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen attend the Chicago Bulls Ring of Honor celebration?

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:34:04 GMT

The Chicago Bulls Ring of Honor provides some long overdue recognition for several of the franchise’s greatest players and coaches, along with the two Hall of Famers who already have been feted at the United Center: Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen.But now comes the hard part for the Bulls — getting Jordan and Pippen to respond to their evite with a “yes” instead of a “no” or “maybe.”No matter what happened between them, the Bulls desperately want the two biggest stars in franchise history to attend the dinner for all the Ring of Honor honorees on Jan. 11 at the United Center and at the halftime ceremony celebrating the members on Jan. 12, when the Bulls play host to the Golden State Warriors.If Pippen accepts, will Jordan send his regrets?If Jordan decides to come, will Pippen stay away?Are the Bulls better off if only one attends?It’s complicated, this Bulls reunion thing, thanks to Pippen’s harsh response to the alleged...

Australia cricketer Khawaja wears a black armband after a ban on his ‘all lives are equal’ shoes

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:34:04 GMT

PERTH, Australia (AP) — Australia batter Usman Khawaja wasn’t allowed to wear shoes branded with his “all lives are equal” humanitarian message, so he wore a black arm band instead Thursday on Day 1 of the series-opening cricket test against Pakistan.The International Cricket Council intervened on Wednesday after Khawaja indicated he planned to wear shoes during the match that featured messages to highlight the loss of innocent lives in the Israel-Hamas war.The ICC’s policies for international cricket prohibit displays of political or religious statements on team uniforms or equipment.Khawaja said he’d abide by the ruling to avoid individual or team sanctions, but would challenge the ICC’s stance.“ Freedom is a human right, and all rights are equal,” Khawaja said in a social media post. “I will never stop believing that.”Australia batted first in the five-day match, and Khawaja and fellow Australian opener David Warner strode to the pitch along with the Pakistan fielders...

Trevor Noah will host the 2024 Grammy Awards for the fourth year in a row

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:34:04 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — As the age-old adage goes, don’t mess with success. The Grammy Awards aren’t, bringing Trevor Noah back as host in 2024.Noah shared the news Wednesday night on his podcast “What Now? With Trevor Noah.” For those keeping count, the 66th Grammys will mark his fourth consecutive year of hosting duties.SZA heads into the 2024 ceremony with a leading nine nominations. “Kill Bill,” her revenge anthem cloaked in an R&B ballad, earned her nods for record of the year, song of the year, and best R&B performance. “SOS” is also up for album of the year and best progressive R&B album. The 2024 ceremony is the second time SZA has been nominated for record, album, and song in the same year.Phoebe Bridgers has the second-most nominations, with seven. Six of those are with her band boygenius. Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, Miley Cyrus, Billie Eilish, Brandy Clark, Jon Batiste and producer Jack Antonoff also earned six.The 2024 Grammy Awards will air Feb. 4 l...

Coal mine accident kills 3 in northern China’s Shanxi province, a major coal-producing region

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:34:04 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — An accident in a coal mine in northern China’s Shanxi province left three people dead, state broadcaster CCTV reported Thursday.Four people were cleaning a bunker used to store coal when the accident occurred on Wednesday. It was unclear what caused the accident. Rescue workers were able to save one person, but the three others died after resuscitation efforts failed, the report said.The accident occurred at Huajin Coking Coal Company in Shanxi, a major coal-producing region.China has been working to improve mine safety to combat accidents, which happen with some frequency. A coal mine explosion killed 11 people in Shanxi in August, and a coal mine fire in southern China’s Guizhou province killed 16 people in September.Last month, a major fire at a coal mining company building in Shanxi killed 26 people and injured dozens of others, but the blaze was not in the mine itself.The Associated Press

Amazon rift: Five things to know about the dispute between an Indigenous chief and Belgian filmmaker

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:34:04 GMT

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — The renowned chief from the Amazon rainforest and the Belgian filmmaker appeared to be close friends at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. Far from the flashing cameras, however, their decades-long partnership was nearing its end.With his feathered crown and wooden lip plate, Chief Raoni of the Kayapo tribe is instantly recognizable the world over. He has met with presidents, royals and celebrities to raise funds for Brazil’s Indigenous peoples and to protect their lands. Almost always in the background was a less familiar face, that of Jean-Pierre Dutilleux, whose documentary about Raoni was a 1979 Oscar nominee. In the years since, he has acted as Raoni’s gatekeeper abroad and brokered meetings with leaders and luminaries. But many Kayapo and others who crossed Dutilleux’s path harbored growing suspicions about him. The Associated Press interviewed dozens of people over nearly a year — including both Raoni and Dutilleux — to provide an inside...

US judge to weigh cattle industry request to halt Colorado wolf reintroduction

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:34:04 GMT

A federal judge is set to consider on Thursday a request by Colorado’s cattle industry to block the impending reintroduction of gray wolves to the state under a voter-approved initiative.State wildlife officials plan to capture up to 10 wolves from Oregon and begin releasing them in Colorado by Dec. 31 as they race to meet a deadline imposed under a 2020 ballot proposal that passed by a narrow margin. The animals would be among the first gray wolves in Colorado in decades.The Gunnison County Stockgrowers’ Association and Colorado Cattlemen’s Association filed a lawsuit Monday to halt the releases. They claim the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service failed to adequately review Colorado’s plan to release up to 50 wolves onto state and private land over the next several years.Judge Regina M. Rodriguez scheduled a 10 a.m. hearing at the federal courthouse in Denver to hear arguments in the case.Gray wolves were exterminated across most of the U.S. by the 1930s under government-spo...

The Republican leading the probe of Hunter Biden has his own shell company and complicated friends

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:34:04 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Rep. James Comer boasts of being one of the largest landholders near his rural Kentucky hometown, and he has meticulously documented nearly all of his holdings on congressional financial disclosure documents – roughly 1,600 acres in all.But there are six acres that he bought in 2015 and co-owns with a longtime campaign contributor that he has treated differently, transferring his ownership to Farm Team Properties, a shell company he co-owns with his wife.Interviews and records reviewed by The Associated Press provide new insights into the financial deal, which risks undercutting the force of some of Comer’s central arguments in his impeachment inquiry of President Joe Biden. In particular, Comer has attacked some Biden family members, including the president’s son Hunter, over their use of “shell companies” that appear designed to obscure millions of dollars in earnings they received from shadowy middlemen and foreign interests.Such companies typically exist only o...

Anxiety and resignation in Argentina after Milei’s economic shock measures

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:34:04 GMT

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Julia González wonders how she will afford the three bus rides and train trip to her job in downtown Buenos Aires. Lucía Pergolesi regrets her best friend has been fired from her job in a government ministry. Hilario Laffite admits he will have to increase prices in the shop where he works.These are some of the faces of anxiety that Argentines are dealing with after President Javier Milei’s administration announced economic shock measures aimed at tackling the country severe crisis, including a sharp devaluation of the peso by 50%, cuts to subsidies and the closure of some ministries. Milei himself has warned people that these steps will cause some pain, but he insists they are needed to curb triple-digit inflation and have sustainable economic growth in the future. But concern is evident among people, even with those who support the self-declared “anarcho-capitalist” who took office as president Sunday.Julia González, 35, is a Paraguayan national who ...