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The movie is projected to debut with a modest $31 million to $41 million this weekend in the U.S., according to the Box Office Pro website. That is well shy of the recent $120.5 million haul for Sony’s critically acclaimed animated hit "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse." Pixar is looking to rebound from the box office disappointment of 2022 release "Lightyear," the origin story of "Toy Story" hero Buzz Lightyear. "Judging Pixar on the recent past, history would not be kind," said SVB MoffettNathanson media analyst Michael Nathanson. But the move dealt a blow to creatives who had hoped their films would be seen on the big screen, according to one Pixar director who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Persons: Athie, Leah Lewis, Pete Docter, Denise Ream, Peter Sohn, Adele Exarchopoulos, Vincent Lacoste, Jim Morris, Read, Buzz Lightyear, Pixar, Michael Nathanson, Sohn, Mario, Shawn Robbins, Robbins, Bob Chapek’s, Luca, creatives, Sohn’s, Dawn Chmielewski, Lisa Richwine, Nathan Frandino, Kenneth Li, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Cannes Film, Pixar Animation Studios, Box, Pixar, Reuters, Walt Disney Co, Reuters Television, Comcast, Universal Pictures, Mario Bros, Sony Pictures, Pro, Disney, U.S, Cannes, Rotten, Thomson Locations: U.S, City, Los Angeles, San Francisco

☆ Georgia Officials Target Bail Fund in Crackdown on ‘Cop City’ Protests
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Rick Rojas | Sean Keenan | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

But officials contended that the arrests reflected something far more sinister: “These criminals facilitated and encouraged domestic terrorism,” said Georgia’s governor, Brian Kemp. The three people arrested — Marlon Kautz, 39; Savannah Patterson, 30; and Adele MacLean, 42 — made an initial court appearance on Friday. Bail for each of them was set at $15,000. But Judge James Altman expressed some skepticism about the state’s case. “I don’t find it real impressive,” he told prosecutors during the hearing, adding that “there’s not a lot of meat on the bones of thousands of dollars going to illegal activities.”

Persons: ”, Brian Kemp, ” Mr, Kemp, “, — Marlon Kautz, Savannah Patterson, Adele MacLean, —, James Altman Locations: Atlanta

☆ Pterosaur bones found in Australia reveal world’s oldest flying reptile lived there 107 million years ago
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Pterosaurs, the world’s oldest flying reptiles, once flew in Australia’s skies as far back as 107 million years ago, according to a study published Wednesday. Palaeontologists came to that conclusion after examining two pieces of prehistoric bone extracted from Dinosaur Cove – a fossil-bearing site in the Australian state of Victoria – more than three decades ago. The samples turned out to be the oldest remains of pterosaurs ever recovered from the country, according to the study published in science journal History Biology on Wednesday. Experts from the Perth-based Curtin University and Museums Victoria, in Melbourne, examined bones from two individuals, including a wing bone belonging to the first juvenile pterosaur ever reported in Australia. The pterosaur bones discovered at Dinosaur Cove in Victoria, Australia.

Persons: Palaeontologists, Victoria –, Adele Pentland, palaeontologists Tom Rich, Pat Vickers, Victoria, ”, “, Rich Organizations: CNN, Curtin University, Museums Victoria, Museums Victoria Research Institute Locations: Australian, Victoria, Perth, Melbourne, Australia, Brazil, Argentina

☆ The Village People really want Trump to stop playing 'Macho Man' and say a recent cover of it at Mar-a-Lago caused 'public confusion'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Grace Eliza Goodwin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The Village People have asked Trump to stop using their music and likeness at his events. The letter said a cover band's recent performance of "Macho Man" at Mar-a-Lago caused "public confusion." The letter requested that Trump stop using the band's music and likeness at his events. "The performance has, and continues to cause, public confusion as to why Village People would even engage in such a performance," Willis wrote. The Village People are not the first, and likely won't be the last, musicians to demand Trump stop using their music — artists like Rihanna, Adele, and Elton John have also voiced their disapproval.

Revisit some of the predominant trends in music that came to define a mercurial decade, from pop-rap and boy bands to aesthetic sadness and protest anthems. Rap goes the viral pop routeAt the beginning of the 2010s, rap stars had trouble scoring their own No. Dark and dreary pop blows upLana Del Rey helped to usher in a new era of downbeat and dark pop. Karl Walter/Getty ImagesBoth the Weeknd and Del Rey have pivoted since their debuts, with their images becoming more complicated than their indie origins belie. Del Rey, meanwhile, has only burrowed deeper into her niche, crafting intensely personal records that have matured with her listeners.

The new Netflix docudrama “Queen Cleopatra,” produced and narrated by Jada Pinkett Smith, has already elicited a passionate response, though perhaps not the kind that publicists hoped for. “Queen Cleopatra” depicts the legendary monarch as Black. Many contemporary Egyptians view her as a key figure in the preservation of their history and even as a role model for contemporary Egyptian women. Scholars have long debated whether certain references in Shakespeare’s “Antony and Cleopatra” suggest that the playwright believed she had dark skin. “Queen Cleopatra,” however, has touched an international nerve.

☆ LinkedIn Cuts More Than 700 Jobs Worldwide, Closes China App
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Newley Purnell | Rachel Liang | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

WSJ explains why many professionals are getting the pink slip first. Illustration: Adele MorganHONG KONG— Microsoft ’s LinkedIn said it is closing down its China-focused jobs app and cutting 716 positions globally, citing slower revenue growth and changing customer behavior as it becomes the latest U.S. tech company to trim its workforce amid economic pressures. LinkedIn Chief Executive Ryan Roslansky said in a letter to employees Monday that teams globally will be reorganized, and that with customer demand changing, the company would use more vendors.

Companies Peloton Interactive Inc FollowNEW YORK, May 2 (Reuters) - A U.S. judge on Tuesday refused to let Peloton Interactive Inc (PTON.O) customers pursue a class action accusing the bike and treadmill maker of misleading them about the "ever-growing" size of its library of on-demand fitness classes. The decision is a victory for New York-based Peloton, because class actions can allow for greater recoveries at lower cost than when plaintiffs sue individually. According to the customers, Peloton knew this could happen, yet kept charging full price for products containing copyrighted songs by Adele, Beyoncé, Luke Bryan, Drake, Ariana Grande, Madonna, Justin Timberlake, Jay Z and other artists. Peloton settled the licensing lawsuit by the National Music Publishers' Association and 14 members in February 2020. The case is Passman et al v Peloton Interactive Inc, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No.

☆ U.S. Layoffs Jumped in March as Job Openings Fell
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Gwynn Guilford | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

As interest rates rise and companies tighten their belts, white-collar workers have taken the brunt of layoffs and job cuts, breaking with the usual pattern leading into a downturn. WSJ explains why many professionals are getting the pink slip first. Illustration: Adele MorganU.S. layoffs rose sharply in March and job openings dropped, in signs that demand for workers is cooling a year after the Federal Reserve began lifting interest rates to combat inflation. Layoffs rose to a seasonally adjusted 1.8 million in March from the prior month from a revised 1.6 million in February, the Labor Department said Tuesday. The increase was led by job losses in construction, leisure and hospitality and healthcare industries—sectors that have driven job growth in recent months as tech, finance and other white-collar industries cooled.

☆ Job Openings Near Two-Year Low as Layoffs Jump
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Gwynn Guilford | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

As interest rates rise and companies tighten their belts, white-collar workers have taken the brunt of layoffs and job cuts, breaking with the usual pattern leading into a downturn. WSJ explains why many professionals are getting the pink slip first. Illustration: Adele MorganU.S. job openings dropped to their lowest level in nearly two years in March and layoffs rose sharply, in signs that demand for workers is cooling a year after the Federal Reserve began lifting interest rates to combat inflation. Layoffs rose to a seasonally adjusted 1.8 million in March from the prior month, up from a revised 1.6 million in February, the Labor Department said Tuesday. The increase was led by job losses in construction, leisure and hospitality and healthcare industries—sectors that have driven job growth in recent months as tech, finance and other white-collar industries cooled.

☆ Ukraine’s Arms Industry Survives Russian Onslaught to Hit Back
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Alistair Macdonald | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Illustration: Adele MorganFor Ukraine’s largest weapons maker, the war started with a barrage of Russian missiles that destroyed one factory and several of its giant Antonov cargo planes. Despite a persistent onslaught, Ukroboronprom says it has delivered more than eight times the weapons to Ukraine’s military over the past year than the one before.

☆ U.S. Struggles to Replenish Munitions Stockpiles as Ukraine War Drags On
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-29 | by ( Doug Cameron | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

U.S. defense contractors’ inability to quickly replenish weaponry such as missiles and munitions for Ukraine has led Pentagon officials to argue that industry consolidation has gone too far and raised questions about how prepared America is for conflict. Illustration: Adele MorganMore than a year after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, U.S. plans to increase production of key munitions have fallen short due to shortages of chips, machinery and skilled workers. Arms makers have added factory shifts, ordered new equipment and streamlined supply chains to boost output of Javelin antitank missiles, artillery shells, guided rockets and much more, which Ukrainian forces are firing by the thousands at the Russian invaders.

☆ U.S. Push to Restock Howitzer Shells, Rockets Sent to Ukraine Bogs Down
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-29 | by ( Doug Cameron | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

☆ Cleopatra wasn't a Black woman, Egypt tells Netflix in a feud over new drama-documentary
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-29 | by ( Bethany Dawson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Egypt has accused Netflix of misrepresenting Cleopatra by framing her as a Black woman. Dr. Mustafa Waziri of the Supreme Council of Archeology said it's a "blatant historical fallacy." The drama-documentary "Queen Cleopatra" is set to air on May 10, with Adele James cast as the queen. "Queen Cleopatra," the soon-to-be-released drama-documentary on the famed Egyptian queen, portrays her as a Black woman. Waziri said that depicting Cleopatra, a legendary beauty, as a Black woman is a "falsification of Egyptian history and a blatant historical fallacy."

☆ From Toilet Paper to Mayonnaise, Staples Stay Strong
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Aaron Back | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Consumer spending has held up relatively well so far despite inflation, but experts say we’re approaching an inflection point. WSJ’s Sharon Terlep explains the role ‘elasticity’ plays in a company’s decision on whether to raise prices. Photo illustration: Adele MorganMakers of everyday household goods say consumers are sticking with them despite double-digit price increases. A raft of American and European companies producing packaged food and other staples such as tissues and cleaning products have reported results over the past week or so, and the results are encouraging. Analysts had expected growth of 6.9%, according to VisibleAlpha.

☆ Brittney Griner Expresses Hope for Her Basketball Future, Concern for Americans Still Held Overseas
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Louise Radnofsky | Robert O Connell | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Basketball star Brittney Griner landed in the U.S. after being released from a Russian penal colony in a negotiated prisoner swap, a U.S. official said. WSJ examines the events that led to Griner’s detainment, sentencing and release, and what comes next. Illustration: Adele MorganAt a press conference that was styled more as a triumphant homecoming, the Phoenix Mercury on Thursday celebrated the return of its star player Brittney Griner after a 10-month detention in Russia. In her first extensive media availability since being released from a Russian penal colony in December, Griner pledged to fight for the return of other American detainees, without explicitly naming two in Russia whom she was specifically asked about.

☆ ‘Karaoke’: From an Orchestral Backing Track to a Star Turn
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Ben Zimmer | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Linguist and lexicographer Ben Zimmer analyzes the origins of words in the news. Read previous columns here. This week marked the end of James Corden ’s eight-year run as the host of CBS ’s “The Late Late Show.” One of the show’s most popular features has been the recurring segment “Carpool Karaoke,” wherein Mr. Corden invites famous musical guests to sing along to their own songs while giving them a lift in his car. On the final “Carpool Karaoke,” broadcast as part of a prime-time special Thursday night before the show’s final episode, British megastar Adele turned the tables on her friend Mr. Corden, giving him a ride to work instead.

☆ James Corden bids an emotional farewell to ‘The Late Late Show’
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Toyin Owoseje | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —After eight years and multiple Emmy awards, James Corden’s time as host of “The Late Late Show” has come to an end. James Corden sings "That's Our Show" to say his last goodbyes to "The Late Late Show" on April 27, 2023. “I’ve watched America change a lot. Over these past few years, I’ve watched divisions grow and I’ve seen and I’ve felt a sense of negativity bubble and at points boil over,” he added. Corden ended his final appearance by performing a piano ballad, as a video montage of his finest moments on the show played.

☆ Facebook Parent Meta Platforms Sees First Sales Increase in Nearly a Year
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Salvador Rodriguez | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Illustration: Adele MorganFacebook parent Meta Platforms Inc. on Wednesday reported its first increase in sales in nearly a year due to continued improvements in its advertising business, as the company continues to pare back spending in what Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg has called a “year of efficiency.”The company reported revenue of $28.6 billion, up 3% from a year prior and ahead of expectations of nearly $27.7 billion, according to analysts surveyed by FactSet. That snapped a streak of three quarters in which Meta’s revenue had retreated from the year prior, the only time that has occurred since the company went public in 2012. Shares surged by more than 10% in off-hours trading, as the company also forecast that second-quarter revenue could reach as high as $32 billion.

☆ Royal castles to luxury getaways: How to spend King Charles III's coronation weekend
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | Rob Goss | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

The king has pledged a more scaled-back affair than that celebrated by his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, in 1953. Here's CNBC Travel's top picks for how to spend the coronation weekend. Watch the ceremonial processionThe coronation will take place at Westminster Abbey on May 6 in a service conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Buckingham Palace, London residence of the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom, is open for tours outside of the coronation weekend. Picnic in the Royal ParksLondon's Royal Parks offer a more low-key way to absorb the royal atmosphere over the coronation weekend.

☆ Video: Adele cries with James Corden on the final 'Carpool Karaoke'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-25 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: 1 min

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☆ Coca-Cola Earnings Posts Higher Sales as Consumers Buy Drinks Away From Home
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( Dean Seal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Photo illustration: Adele MorganCoca-Cola Co. saw first-quarter sales rise as customers bought more beverages on the go. The beverage company said global sales rose 5% in the first three months of the year to $10.98 billion, topping analyst expectations for $10.8 billion.

☆ Adele Roberts: Radio DJ breaks record for fastest woman with an ileostomy to run the London Marathon
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —British radio presenter Adele Roberts became the fastest woman to complete the London Marathon with an ileostomy, running the distance in just over three and a half hours on Sunday. The Guinness World Records awarded Roberts with a framed certificate at the finish line, writing on Twitter: “Adele Roberts completed the fastest marathon with an ileostomy (female) in 3:30:22. “Thank you to every single person who has helped make today possible,” Roberts wrote on Instagram after the race. “This means I currently have no use of my large colon,” Roberts wrote on her fundraising page. Roberts was one of thousands of runners to complete the London Marathon on Sunday which raised millions for charitable causes.

☆ The incredible, Earth-saving electric bike is having a moment
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-22 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

And while electric cars get all the hype, a game-changing solution to getting around without warming the planet has flourished right under our noses. Electric cars are important, too, but they're expensive and far off for a lot of drivers, MacArthur said. The most popular electric vehicles in the US don't have a Tesla logoWhile electric cars get all the attention, e-bikes have for years been the best-selling electric vehicles in the US. Last year, Americans bought just over 800,000 electric cars, according to Kelley Blue Book, a record. Since e-bikes are much cheaper than electric cars, "you can get them into the hands of consumers faster," she said.

☆ Consumers Keep Paying Higher Prices for Detergent, Toothpaste
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( Sabela Ojea | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Photo illustration: Adele MorganConsumers continue to absorb higher prices for Pampers diapers and Tide detergent, boosting quarterly sales and profit at Procter & Gamble Co. as businesses and households battle elevated inflation. The company raised prices by about 10% across its various brands in the March quarter from a year earlier. It was the second straight quarter with a 10% year-over-year increase as the global company passed along higher costs and widened its profit margins.

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