Mr. Kishida toasts Mr. Biden and the Japan-U.S. alliance at a state dinner, cracking jokes and referring to “Star Trek.''
WASHINGTON (AP) – Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida joked at a state dinner Wednesday, invoking a touchstone of American culture by quoting “Star Trek.” He told White House guests that he hoped the “unwavering relationship” between his country and the United States would “take us boldly where no one has gone before.” Kishida and President Joe Biden exchanged a warm toast in honor of each other and their countries' close alliance, as top figures from business, sports and politics looked on. Mr. Biden and Mr. Kishida expressed their true friendship and vowed that their countries will remain united in the face of global challenges.
Universal Pictures teases 'Wicked', announces 'Five Nights at Freddy's 2'
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Coming off a breakout 2023 that saw it win Best Picture and top the box office, Universal Pictures is looking to the future. The studio's upcoming releases include the big screen adaptations of Wicked, Twisters and the newly announced Five Nights at Freddy's sequel. Universal brought its biggest films to CinemaCon in Las Vegas on Wednesday, including Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, Glen Powell, Lupita Nyong'o, Daisy Edgar-Jones and Anthony Ramos. The audience gathered together with the star of the show. Theater owners and exhibitors are excited about what's to come.
10 emerging authors each win $50,000 Whiting Prize
NEW YORK (AP) — Fiction author and National Book Award finalist Aaliyah Bilal is among 10 winners of the Whiting Award, which honors emerging writers. Other winners include fellow fiction writers Yun Choi, Gotataone Moen and Ada Chan. Each will receive $50,000. On Wednesday, the Whiting Foundation also honored playwrights Shayok Misha Chaudhry and Frances Yachu Cowhig, poets Taylor Johnson, Charif Shanahan, and Elisa Gonzalez, and poet and nonfiction writer Javier Zamora. It was announced that the award had been awarded. The award was founded by him in 1985, and past recipients include Tony Kushner and Mary Carr.
Japan gifts 250 new cherry trees to Washington to replace those lost to construction work
WASHINGTON (AP) – Japan is adding 250 new cherry trees to replace hundreds that will be removed this summer as construction workers work to repair crumbling seawalls around the capital's Tidal Basin. to the United States. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida made the announcement during an official visit to Washington, where his state dinner will be held at the White House. President Joe Biden said the gift commemorates the United States' 250th anniversary in 2026, calling the tree “timeless, inspiring and thriving.” The cherry tree was first planted in 1912 by him as a symbol of friendship between Japan and the United States.
Kansas City Chiefs' Laci Rice faces aggravated assault charges after high-speed crash in Dallas
DALLAS (AP) – Dallas police say Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Lachie Rice faces charges including aggravated assault after he and another speeding sports car driver were involved in a chain-reaction crash on a Dallas freeway last month. It was announced that he had been indicted. Police said an arrest warrant had been issued for the 23-year-old man on charges of one count of aggravated assault, one count of collision with serious bodily injury, and six counts of collision with bodily injury. Rice's attorney, state Sen. Royce West, said last week that Rice was driving a Lamborghini sport-utility vehicle at the time of the accident.
Track and field will be the first sport to pay prize money at the Olympics.Paris gold medalist receives $50,000
Track and field is set to become the first sport to introduce prize money at the Olympics, with World Athletics announcing on Wednesday that it will pay $50,000 to gold medalists at the Paris Games. World Athletics has announced that it will set aside $2.4 million to pay gold medalists in the 48 events included in the program for this year's Paris Olympics. The relay team will divide his $50,000 among its members. Payments to silver and bronze medalists are expected to begin at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Margot Robbie to produce 'Monopoly' movie, Blumhouse to revive 'Blair Witch'
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Margot Robbie has her eyes set on another toy. The “Barbie” producer and star is producing a Monopoly movie in partnership with Hasbro and Lionsgate, the companies announced Wednesday at the CinemaCon conference in Las Vegas. Lionsgate also said it is developing a new “Blair Witch Project'' with horror experts from Blumhouse, the studio behind “The Purge'' and “M3GAN.'' This is the first in a multi-year agreement between Jason Blum's company and Lionsgate and will leverage the studio's library of titles. The first film, Blair Witch, was released in 1999 and became a box office phenomenon.
Ford recalls nearly 43,000 SUVs due to gas leak that could cause fire, but remedies won't fix the leak
DETROIT (AP) — Ford is recalling about 43,000 small SUVs because gasoline can leak from fuel injectors onto hot engine surfaces, increasing the risk of fire. However, the recall does not resolve the fuel leak. Affected are certain 2022 and 2023 Bronco Sport SUVs, as well as 2022 Escape SUVs, all with 1.5-liter engines. Ford says the fuel injectors could crack, allowing gasoline and vapors to build up near the source of ignition. The dealer will install tubing to channel the gas from the hot surface to the ground. The company also plans to update the software that detects low fuel pressure. In that case, the software disables the high-pressure fuel pump, reduces engine power, and lowers the temperature in the engine compartment. Owners will be notified starting April 1st.
Jessica Alba steps down as chief creative officer of personal care company Honest
Jessica Alba, who shot to fame in James Cameron's TV series “Dark Angel” and in the movies “Sin City” and “Fantastic Four,” has been named chief creative officer at personal care company The Honest Company. resign. The one she founded. Alba will remain on the board, but Honest said her focus will now be on her “new initiatives.” She founded Honest in 2012 after suffering an allergic reaction to baby laundry detergent. Shares of Los Angeles-based Honest Inc. fell slightly before the opening bell on Wednesday.
While many cities are frustrated with hosting the Olympics, Salt Lake City's enthusiasm persists
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Many past Olympic host countries around the world have decided in recent years that bringing back the Games isn't worth the money or effort. However, Salt Lake City is one of the few places where Olympic fever is still strong, more than 20 years after the event was first held in 2002. The city's continued enthusiasm was on full display Wednesday as members of the International Olympic Committee descended on northern Utah for the finals. The site visit comes ahead of a formal announcement expected in July that Salt Lake City will be selected as the 2034 host site. In anticipation of hosting the Games again, the state has invested huge sums of money to prevent Olympic facilities from falling into disrepair.