'Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle' opens to $70M, biggest anime debut to claim top box-office spot

LOS ANGELES (AP) — “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle” carved out a place in box office history this weekend, slicing straight to No. 1 to outpace the horror sequel “The Conjuring: Last Rites.” The Sony-owned Crunchyroll release shattered expectations with a mighty $70 million debut in North America, according to Sunday estimates from Comscore. That haul marks the biggest domestic opening ever for an anime film, surpassing “Pokémon: The First Movie,” which opened with $31 million in 1999. The film also opened in 49 international markets, earning a global total so far of $178 million. “The Conjuring: Last Rites” took the No. 2 spot at the box office, earning $26 million in North America.

Fox News' Brian Kilmeade apologizes for saying mentally ill homeless people should be executed

Fox News host Brian Kilmeade has apologized for advocating the execution of mentally ill homeless people. His earlier remarks, made on “Fox & Friends” Wednesday, began receiving wide circulation online over the weekend. On Sunday, Kilmeade called his remarks callous. Kilmeade and Fox colleagues had been discussing the August murder of a woman in North Carolina, for which a mentally ill homeless man was arrested. Fox host Lawrence Jones said such homeless people who don't accept public services offered to them should be jailed. Kilmeade responded that they should be given an “involuntary lethal injection, or something." He added: “Just kill 'em.”

UCLA fires coach DeShaun Foster after 0-3 start to his second season

LOS ANGELES (AP) — UCLA has fired football coach DeShaun Foster after the team started the season 0-3. Athletic director Martin Jarmond announced the decision on Sunday. The move came after the Bruins lost to New Mexico 35-10 on Friday, marking their second straight loss to a Mountain West Conference opponent. Foster, who took over from Chip Kelly in February 2024, had a 5-10 record with the team. The Bruins were also defeated by Utah and UNLV this season. Tim Skipper will serve as interim coach for the remainder of the season, which includes games against three highly ranked Big Ten Conference opponents.

Virginia Tech fires coach Brent Pry after program's 1st 0-3 start since 1987

BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) — Virginia Tech has fired football coach Brent Pry after the program stumbled to its first 0-3 start since 1987. The school announced the move Sunday. That came a day after the Hokies fell behind 31-0 on the way to a 45-26 loss to Old Dominion. In a statement, Pry said Blacksburg will always hold a special place in our hearts.” Offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery will serve as interim coach.

Sean Astin, who starred in 'Lord of the Rings' and 'Rudy,' is elected as SAG-AFTRA's new president

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The union that represents tens of thousands of actors and other entertainer and media professionals has elected Sean Astin as its new president. On Friday, SAG-AFTRA elected Astin — who starred in “Rudy” and “The Lord of the Rings,” among other roles — to succeed Fran Drescher as its president. Astin is the son of the late Academy Award-winning actress Patty Duke. He defeated Chuck Slavin in a 79% to 21% vote. Michelle Hurd was elected secretary-treasurer. SAG-AFTRA brings together Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and represents approximately 160,000 actors, announcers, broadcast journalists, dancers, program hosts and others.

A shoulder to lean on: Steeplechaser stops, lends a helping hand to a struggling competitor

TOKYO (AP) — Steeplechaser Tim Van de Velde looked behind him and saw a fellow competitor crawling over the last barrier on a 3,000-meter journey that went terribly for both. His hopes already long crushed, he turned around, put an arm around stumbling Carlos San Martin and helped him jog to the finish. That show of sportsmanship between the 10th- and 11th-place finishers in an otherwise routine race might very well have been the highlight of a busy opening night at track and field world championships, even on a day when five gold medals were handed out.

FAA seeks $3.1 million in fines from Boeing over safety violations, 2024 midair panel blowout

The Federal Aviation Administration is seeking $3.1 million in fines from Boeing over safety violations, including an incident in January last year where an Alaska Airlines jetliner lost a door plug panel on its fuselage in midflight. No one was seriously injured, and the plane landed safely. The agency said Friday that the proposed penalty covers violations from September 2023 through February 2024. The FAA said it identified hundreds of quality system violations at Boeing’s 737 factory and a subcontractor’s facility. Boeing has 30 days to respond to the FAA.

Ghana's fantasy coffins are a colorful celebration of life and legacy

ACCRA, Ghana (AP) — Ghana's fantasy coffins are unique creations that embody the essence of a person's life. Known by locals as Abebuo, these colorful coffins, shaped like animals, tools, or symbols, serve as a final message from the deceased. While they are common among the Ga people of Accra, their popularity is spreading across Ghana. Families choose designs that reflect identity, occupation and status. Funerals in Ghana are vibrant, with music and dancing, and these coffins add a creative touch. Some coffins are even sought after by collectors as art pieces, destined for museums abroad.

Shaun White and Nina Dobrev call off their engagement, break up after 5 years

Shaun White and Nina Dobrev have called off their engagement and brought an end to their five-year relationship, a person close to the couple tells The Associated Press. The Olympic champion snowboarder and the one-time star of “The Vampire Diaries” made a mutual decision to part, according to the person. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation. White, 39, and Dobrev, 36, went public about their relationship in 2020. They announced their engagement in October 2024, posting a picture of White kneeling in front of Dobrev at a New York restaurant.

Australia approves world-first vaccine to save koalas from chlamydia

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australia has approved a world-first vaccine to protect koalas from chlamydia. This disease causes infertility and death in the endangered species. Developed by the University of the Sunshine Coast, the single-dose vaccine reduces symptoms and mortality by at least 65%. Approval means it can now be used in wildlife hospitals and in the field. Some conservationists argue resources should focus on habitat preservation. Koalas face threats from habitat loss, climate change and disease. Experts warn that without action, koalas could become extinct by 2050. The vaccine is part of a broader effort to save them.