
-
Indian army says new exchange of gunfire with Pakistan
-
Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre takes own life in Australia: family
-
Hundreds of buildings damaged, dozens injured in 6.3 Ecuador quake
-
India and Pakistan's Kashmir fallout hits economy too
-
Francis's funeral to be grand farewell to 'pope of the poor'
-
Pogacar faces defiant Evenepoel at Liege-Bastogne-Liege
-
Chelsea eye great escape against Barcelona in Women's Champions League
-
Iran, US to hold new round of high-level nuclear talks
-
'Energy and effort' pay off for Reds as Blues' woes continue
-
Albatross and closing birdie lift China's Liu to LPGA Chevron lead
-
On the horizon? Wave of momentum for high seas treaty
-
Developing countries should fast-track US trade deals: World Bank president
-
Grizzlies' Morant 'doubtful' for must-win game 4 v Thunder
-
Trump in Rome for pope funeral in first foreign trip of new term
-
Trump says Russia-Ukraine deal 'very close' after new Kremlin talks
-
US rookies lead PGA pairs event with McIlroy and Lowry in hunt
-
Trump tariff promises get a reality check
-
Warriors coach Kerr 'relatively optimistic' injured Butler will play game 3
-
Postecoglou hopes 'Stonecutter's Credo' can inspire Spurs
-
PSG lose unbeaten Ligue 1 record ahead of Arsenal showdown
-
Venezuela accuses El Salvador president of 'human trafficking'
-
Own goal takes Sundowns to African final against Pyramids
-
Scores of buildings damaged, 20 injured in Ecuador quake
-
US stocks extend rally as market eyes busy calendar next week
-
Pope's death triggers surge of disinformation he fought against
-
Rovanpera takes control of Rally Islas Canarias
-
Zelensky insists Crimea is Ukrainian as US envoy meets Putin
-
Patel and Mendis help Sunrisers beat Kings in Dhoni's 400th T20
-
Copa del Rey ref statements 'unacceptable': Real Madrid after boycotting final build-up
-
Insurance CEO's accused killer pleads not guilty to federal murder charges
-
FBI arrests Wisconsin judge for shielding undocumented migrant
-
Brazil ex-president Collor de Mello jailed for corruption
-
Zelensky insists Crimea 'belongs' to Ukraine as US envoy meets Putin
-
Real Madrid boycott Copa del Rey build-up over referee complaints
-
Trinidad and Tobago votes for parliament, PM, with opposition in lead
-
IMF chief hails 'constructive' Spring Meetings held under tariff uncertainty
-
Iran FM Araghchi in Oman ahead of nuclear talks with US
-
Dozens of buildings destroyed, 20 injured in Ecuador quake
-
Young Barca must 'enjoy' Real Madrid Copa final fight: Flick
-
Pakistan and India border closure separates families
-
Brazil's Bolsonaro 'stable' after post-surgery setback
-
Catholics in secular Cuba hail Francis as 'bridge'
-
US envoy Witkoff, Putin discuss 'possibility' of direct Russia-Ukraine talks
-
Community seeks answers after French school knife killing
-
German prosecutors seek jail terms in VW 'dieselgate' trial
-
Sabalenka makes winning start at Madrid Open
-
EU, US should de-escalate and negotiate trade deal: IMF Europe director
-
Russia accuses Ukraine of killing general in car bombing
-
Emery wants FA Cup glory and Champions League berth for Villa
-
Buildings destroyed, one injured in Ecuador quake

Progressive politics and nepo 'babies': five Oscar takeaways
The Oscar nominations were unveiled Thursday, with Netflix's "Emilia Perez" leading the charge on a whopping 13 nods.
Here are five takeaways from the 97th Academy Awards nominations announcement:
- Progressive Hollywood -
The United States may have swung to the political right by re-electing President Donald Trump and putting the Republicans in charge of both houses of Congress, but Tinseltown's progressive politics were on full display Thursday.
Frontrunner "Emilia Perez" boasts the first ever openly trans acting nominee in Karla Sofia Gascon -- even if the movie's approach to LGBTQ representation was dubbed "retrograde" by advocacy group GLAAD.
"The Brutalist," a three-and-a-half-hour epic about a Holocaust survivor moving to the post-war United States, celebrates the key role of immigrants in building the world's leading economy.
It earned 10 nods. So did Broadway adaptation "Wicked," which promotes tolerance regardless of skin color, and warns against authoritarianism.
And there were two surprise acting nominations for "The Apprentice," a biopic about the young Trump that has drawn legal threats for its unsavory depiction of his formative years.
- Changing of the guard? -
In the absence of films from Hollywood heavyweights like Christopher Nolan, Steven Spielberg or Martin Scorsese -- and no love for Francis Ford Coppola's "Megalopolis" -- this year's nominees for best director are all appearing in the category for the first time.
Only James Mangold, who helmed Bob Dylan biopic "A Complete Unknown," has ever been Oscar-nominated in any category previously.
He earned nods for adapted screenplay with superhero prequel "Logan," and best picture with racing drama "Ford v Ferrari."
His four rivals are Sean Baker, Jacques Audiard, Brady Corbet, and Coralie Fargeat -- the sole woman nominated.
All have earned their stripes on the indie and international circuits -- and Audiard's "A Prophet" was Oscar-nominated in 2010 -- but they are tasting personal Academy recognition for the first time.
- Nepo 'babies' -
It has long been an open secret in Hollywood that one of the quickest ways to the top is to have famous parents.
But even for the most talented acting scions, that journey can still take many decades.
Isabella Rossellini, the daughter of three-time Oscar winner Ingrid Bergman and acclaimed director Roberto Rossellini, finally scored her first Academy nomination at the age of 72, with "Conclave."
And 59-year-old Brazilian actress Fernanda Torres followed in her mother's footsteps, decades after Fernanda Montenegro was nominated for "Central Station."
- Return of the musical... -
In Hollywood's Golden Age, grand old musicals like "The Wizard of Oz" would often dominate the Oscars.
While there have been more recent successes like "La La Land," the genre has generally faded from critical recognition.
Even "La La Land," with its record-tying 14 nominations, infamously missed out on best picture after an envelope mix-up at the 2017 Oscar ceremony's botched finale.
The 2024 crop of movies is a return to form, with "Emilia Perez" and "Wicked" leading the pack.
There was also a strong showing for "A Complete Unknown," in which Timothee Chalamet performs hits like "Blowin' in the Wind" in Bob Dylan's signature raspy voice.
- ... but not on stage -
Despite the musical accolades, this year's Oscars ceremony will break with tradition by not featuring live performances of the best original song nominees.
The announcement comes after last March's Academy Awards telecast featured memorable renditions of "Barbie" songs from Billie Eilish and Ryan Gosling.
There will be no such opportunity for singer-actress Selena Gomez, who performed "Emilia Perez" number "Mi Camino," and H.E.R., who sings "The Journey" from "The Six Triple Eight."
Instead, Academy bosses say the show will feature segments focusing "on the songwriters."
That is good news for the likes of Diane Warren, who broke her own record with a 16th best song nomination with "The Journey." She has never won a competitive Oscar but earned an honorary award in 2022.
Y.Aukaiv--AMWN