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ROME — Pop superstar Madonna spent her 66th birthday at Pompeii and donated to a local theatre project supporting at-risk kids, the archaeological site said Saturday.

The Material Girl visited the famed UNESCO site Friday night with her entourage, meeting a group of teenagers involved in "Dream of Flying", a theatre project organised by the Pompeii museum that involves local youth in cultural presentations.

"As made known during the meeting, the artist decided to support the project... financing the entire year 2024/2025," wrote the museum in a statement.

Pompeii's director, Gabriel Zuchtriegel, gave Madonna and her group a private tour, after which  some of the young actors presented a sampling of their work.

Fans had waited for hours outside the complex's entrance to catch a glimpse of the singer.

Organisers said the project, now in its fourth year and with a budget of about 250,000 euros, has involved about 300 teenagers and children from the area, who take part as actors, musicians and writers.

After a premiere at Pompeii's large theatre this year, the project toured Bologna and Ravenna, with a performance in Vicenza scheduled for the fall.

Next year's play has not yet been chosen, but would likely be a comedy by Aristophanes, Pompeii site organisers said.

The text will be amended by the children "to give voice... to their experiences in a mixture of classicism, contemporaneity and jokes in Neapolitan", the statement said.

The eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD sent a giant cloud of gases and volcanic ash over the city of Pompeii, burying and preserving its buildings and objects, and even residents itself.

ELDORET, Kenya — Kenyans poured scorn and ridicule on Thursday on a statue they said depicted Olympic running icon Faith Kipyegon, among several erected in the world-renowned running hub of Eldoret to fete the nation’s victorious Olympians.

The crude painted figure of a female athlete, wearing a top emblazoned with the Kenyan flag, was hastily removed after residents complained, media reports said, but not before images went viral.

Social media users widely described it as a statue of Kipyegon, with radio station NRG mocking it as “hideous” while others branded it a “disgrace” to Kenya’s athletics queen and some called for the sculptor to be arrested.

Kipyegon made history at the Paris Games when she became the first woman to win three consecutive Olympic 1,500m gold medals, crossing the line in a new Olympic record of 3min 51.29sec.

The 30-year-old also took silver in the 5,000m after initially being disqualified for an alleged shove on Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay.

“I don’t know where they got the courage to disrespect the golden girl #FaithKipyegon with this so ugly statue... The artist should be arrested,” said one person on X, formerly Twitter.

“Those conmen of Eldoret who made this statue of #FaithKipyegon should be taken to court with an immediate effect,” said former Cabinet minister Moses Kuria.

“Even those who approved millions of shillings on this nonsense, should be answerable to the Anti-corruption Committee!”

Brian Chibole, 24, one of the Eldoret construction workers who helped take down the statue, told AFP it was now lying in the company’s yard waiting to be sent back to Nairobi.

Another similarly amateurish statue — now also taken down — was said to be of marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge, whose hopes of winning a historic third straight gold in Paris were dashed when he pulled up about 30 kilometres into the race.

With a total of 11 medals — four gold, two silver and five bronze — Kenya came 17th in the medal tally at the Olympics, the best performance of any African nation.

But the backlash over the statues overshadowed the reception for the returning Olympic heroes in Eldoret, where President William Ruto awarded the athletes three million shillings ($800) for each gold medal, two million for silver and 1 million for bronze.

“I am very proud this morning, almost emotional, that these sportsmen and women are making our country great,” Ruto said.

LOS ANGELES, United States — Disney/Marvel superhero comedy "Deadpool & Wolverine" enjoyed an exceptional third weekend, taking in an estimated $54.2 million in North American theaters, but Sony's dramatic romance "It Ends With Us" was headed for one of the best openings ever for that genre, analysts said on Sunday.

"Deadpool," led by popular stars Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, has now passed the $1 billion mark in global ticket sales, with $494.3 million in North America and $535 million internationally, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations said.

Warner Bros.' 2019 thriller "Joker" was the only other R-rated film to reach the $1 billion milestone, according to Hollywood Reporter.

But "It Ends With Us" was sailing along at a near-historic pace as well, taking in $50 million for the Friday-through-Sunday period in what was an extraordinary weekend for the power couple of Reynolds and Blake Lively -- she produced and stars in the romance film.

It was the first time in an August, a traditionally slow month, that two films have grossed $50 million in the same weekend, Variety reported.

Analyst David A. Gross said that final numbers should place "It Ends With Us" -- based on the 2016 novel by uber-best-selling author Colleen Hoover -- among the top all-time romance openings. "Fifty Shades of Grey" still has a firm grip on that list, with an $85.2 million opening.

In third for the weekend was Universal's weather thriller "Twisters," at $15 million, down one spot from last weekend. Glen Powell and Daisy Edgar-Jones star as daring tornado chasers who sometimes find the tornados chasing them.

Lionsgate's new release "Borderlands" placed fourth, at $8.8 million, in what Gross said was "a weak opening" for a video-game-based action film despite a cast including Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart and Jack Black. The critically panned film cost an estimated $100 million to make.

And in fifth, down one spot in its sixth weekend out, was Universal's family-friendly animation "Despicable Me 4," at $8 million.

AMMAN  — The Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) 2024 has unveiled its most extensive and thrilling edition yet, promising a summer filled with endless fun and adventure. Running from June 28 to September 1, DSS 2024 offers a variety of activities, spectacular deals and entertainment, making Dubai the ultimate summer destination for residents and visitors alike.

Organised by Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), DSS 2024 will transform the city into a hub of excitement and discovery. Over 65 days, visitors can enjoy a plethora of events, including:

• Retail Extravaganza: Discounts of up to 75 per cent on over 800 top brands across more than 3,500 stores.

• Grand Raffles: Incredible prizes ranging from luxury cars to substantial cash rewards.

• Kids-Go-Free Offers: Special deals that make family outings more affordable.

Gastronomy Delights: Exclusive dining offers at top restaurants across the city.

Highlight destinations and activities

Hotel Boulevard, Autograph Collection: A chic boutique hotel offering luxurious accommodations, diverse dining options, and stunning city views. Perfect for both business and leisure travelers, it is surrounded by art galleries, cafes and fine dining establishments.

The Green Planet: Dubai’s tropical rainforest, home to over 3,000 species of plants, animals, and birds. The ‘Camping in the Rainforest’ experience offers interactive activities every weekend from June 1 to October 5, 2024.

LONDON — Banksy on Sunday unveiled a new artwork in London, depicting a shoal of fish on a police sentry box, his seventh animal-themed piece to surface in the British capital over the last week.

The series created by the elusive street artist has sparked a frenzy of media interest and questions over its meaning.

Banksy - whose identity is publicly unknown and the subject of feverish speculation -- confirmed on Instagram that the latest to appear overnight, in the City of London financial district, was his own.

Prior to Sunday, they had all been dark silhouette images, of a goat, elephants, monkeys, a wolf, pelicans and a cat.

But the newest offering appears to have been made using translucent spray paint on the sentry box's glass windows, turning it into what looks like a giant fish tank.

Two police officers could be seen examining the design and taking pictures of it on Sunday.

"We are aware of criminal damage to a City of London Police box in Ludgate Hill," detective chief inspector Andy Spooner said in a statement.

He noted the police force were "liaising" with the local authority who own the sentry box.

Two of the seven works that have appeared since Monday are no longer visible, after one depicting a wolf on a satellite dish was stolen less than an hour after it was unveiled in southeast London on Thursday.

Then on Saturday, a piece crafted on an empty, distressed advertising billboard -- showing a stretching cat -- was removed from its location in northwest London by contractors citing safety reasons.

Several months usually pass between new Banksy artworks and this week's daily unveilings have sparked speculation in the media and among fans about what they could mean.

The Observer newspaper reported late Saturday that they were designed to "cheer up the public" during a tumultuous week in the UK marked by violent disorder on the streets of various towns and cities.

"Some recent theorising about the deeper significance of each new image has been way too involved, Banksy's support organisation, Pest Control Office, has indicated," the Sunday newspaper said.

LOS ANGELES, United States — 
A diminutive, ageing action hero who is clean-cut but controversial, world-famous yet utterly secretive: Tom Cruise's reign as the world's top movie star has long defied time, expectations and -- when stunts are involved - gravity.



The daredevil star, who famously insists on doing his own leaps, chases and plunges, is widely predicted to perform a death-defying but top-secret stunt on the roof of the Stade de France for the Paris Olympics closing ceremony on Sunday.



It would be just the latest high-adrenaline feat for a 62-year-old actor who rode a motorbike off a cliff for last year's "Mission: Impossible" installment, and still runs rings around Hollywood's young pretenders when it comes to action sequences.

Cruise first emerged as one of the bratty young stars of 1980s Hollywood with "The Outsiders" and "Risky Business".



The fiercely intense and ambitious actor embarked on one of the all-time Hollywood hot streaks with hits like "Top Gun", "Cocktail", "Rain Man", "A Few Good Men" and "Jerry Maguire".

Despite standing at just 5'7", he successfully pivoted toward action films with 1996's "Mission: Impossible".

Controversy enveloped Cruise in the mid-2000s, particularly over his links to Scientology and his love life.

But while rival stars of his generation have waned, Cruise still churns out action blockbusters in which he - not any superhero or franchise -- is the big draw.

His biggest hit came just two years ago with "Top Gun: Maverick".

Cruise flew his own planes for the film, skimming dangerously low above the Earth's surface and enduring intense G-forces.

Cruise "always wanted to go lower," director Joseph Kosinski told AFP.

"I guarantee you'll never see anything quite like it ever again... he was always pushing."

Controversy 

Born Thomas Cruise Mapother in New York on July 3, 1962, Cruise had an unsettled childhood. His father left home when he was 11. Cruise is reported to have attended 15 schools in 12 years.

At one stage, he considered becoming a Catholic priest, but got the acting bug after a high school production of the musical "Guys and Dolls".

His film debut came in 1981 romance "Endless Love". But "Risky Business" (1983) -- in which Cruise famously cavorted semi-naked while lip-syncing to "Old Time Rock and Roll" -- marked him as a future star.

Cast as fighter pilot Maverick in 1986's smash hit "Top Gun", Cruise swiftly ascended to leading man status, and never looked back.

His success on the silver screen has been matched by an ability to create controversial headlines off it.

His vocal support for the secretive Church of Scientology, recognised as a religion in the United States but regarded as a cult in several other countries, has often led him to cross swords with media.

Scientology has established a high-profile presence at the Paris Olympics, setting up a new headquarters near the Stade de France.

Cruise is believed to have been introduced to Scientology by his first wife Mimi Rogers, whom he divorced in 1990.

Cruise went on to have a number of high-profile relationships, including his second marriage to Nicole Kidman.

In 2005, he infamously leapt around on Oprah Winfrey's talk show couch professing love for his much younger, soon-to-be third wife Katie Holmes -- an excruciating moment that threatened to derail his career.

Hollywood studio Paramount even terminated its long relationship with Cruise over "embarrassing" behaviour that it blamed for lackluster ticket sales.

But Cruise was soon welcomed back into the fold.

And no less a figure than Steven Spielberg last year said Cruise and his hit "Top Gun" sequel "might have saved the entire theatrical industry" from the coronavirus pandemic, bringing fans back into theaters.

'Being Tom Cruise' 

Critical acclaim has been less forthcoming. Despite four nominations -- three as an actor -- Cruise has never won an Oscar.

And since those mid-2000s missteps, remarkably little has been revealed about Cruise's personal life.

He is rumoured to have homes in Florida and England.

Each Christmas, he mails white chocolate coconut cakes to his most favoured celebrity acquaintances.

But beyond trademark blockbuster stunts, Cruise closely guards his mystique.

His silence is "a bet that just his being Tom Cruise, offering no further details about what that might entail, is enticement enough for people to watch his movies", said a recent New York Times article.

"Lately, more often than not, he has been right."

By Sonia Salfity,
Desperate Dieter

Have you ever asked yourself “Why me?” when you’re with people who don’t appear to have food issues. Sometimes we dream of switching places with someone who looks like they have it all together. I’m here to tell you to be careful what you wish for!

First impressions

Whether it’s obvious or not, every human being struggles with something. You’re better off accepting the fact that everyone fights a battle no one knows about. Some people are open about their challenges, but others are more private and there’s nothing wrong with that.

Understanding this is very important as we tend to judge the book by its cover before we’ve even read enough chapters. I recently heard someone on our local news say “don’t judge me by the chapter you happen to enter in.” Who doesn’t have a bad day now and then?

Can you imagine someone judging you based on the first impression you made on your worst day?

Accepting challenges

Once we accept our challenges, we can better focus on how to thrive despite them. It’s not realistic to think that one day we will wake up and never have to struggle with food or weight issues ever again. That may work in some fantasy land but not in the real world we live in.

What can make this even more difficult is that we live in a commercial world whose economy benefits off of our challenges. Advertisements for that magic pill come at us from every direction whether it’s on television, billboards or magazines and that’s not counting social media.

If it’s not a medication they’re pushing on us, then it’s the unrealistic body images that only a plastic Barbie doll would fit their mold.

The sad reality is that this does not just negatively impact us, but also impacts our children and, in turn, their children as well — actually, it affects us all.

Just as a stone you toss into the water makes ripples that grow wider, so does the effect our negative selfimage have on everyone around us. From the affect it has on our moods to the pressure it puts on us to look a certain way.

Indeed, the list is endless when it comes to the physical, emotional and mental impact all this has on us. I don’t know about you, but this can really put a toll on us desperate dieters. It’s a heavy burden that we don’t need to be carrying.

Healthier living

With that in mind, I urge you to join me as we fight to get our lives back. Doing what’s healthier for us requires us to tune out the noise of the world, including the media and ads, and other people’s comments.

Healthier living demands our full focus and attention. It requires our perseverance and determination to move more and eat well. By that I mean going back to basics and ditching all processed foods.

In other words, let’s go back to eating the way our ancestors did before convenience took over and was boxed and sold to us as being more progressive.

Friends, the only thing that’s progressive about processed foods is the number on our scales progressively going up!

Here’s to making the time to wash and chop real veggies to making delicious homemade salads.

I remember the days we ate from my grandparent’s garden: foods like cucumbers, tomatoes, zucchinis, radishes, grapes and grape leaves to name just a few.

Little did we realise then the benefits of eating fresh and organic selections.

Friends no matter how many times we fail let’s get back on course and keep moving in the right direction!

“Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently” – Henry Ford

Reprinted with permission from Family Flavours magazine

ANAHEIM, United States — Disney lifted the lid on “Avatar: Fire and Ash” and presented new footage from “Star Wars” and Pixar movies at a giant showcase in front of 12,000 fans in California on Friday.

“Avatar” director James Cameron took the stage at the company’s biennial D23 fan gathering to announce the name of the latest installment of his sci-fi franchise, due out December 2025.

“The new film is not what you expect. But it’s definitely what you want,” teased Cameron of his third visit to Pandora.

The previous two “Avatar” films are the highest and third-highest grossing movies of all time, earning $5.2 billion combined.

Images from the new movie, currently in production in New Zealand, showed its blue Na’vi characters dancing around a campfire, as well as images of giant floating ships and flying beasts.

The director promised higher emotional stakes, and “new cultures and settings and creatures and new biomes”.

“You’ll see a lot more Pandora, the planet, that you never saw before,” he said.

The fourth and fifth “Avatar” films are scheduled for 2029 and 2031.

Also in Friday’s presentation, Disney fans saw a first glimpse of “The Mandalorian and Grogu”.

Out in May 2026, it will be the first “Star Wars” film since 2019’s divisive “The Rise of Skywalker”.

Disney, which had been churning out a new “Star Wars” film every year to that point, dramatically slammed the brakes in the face of diminishing box office returns.

“We’re putting ‘Star Wars’ back on the big screen,’” said Dave Filoni, producer of the new movie — which is spun off from streaming series “The Mandalorian,” and will feature its beloved Baby Yoda.

Footage showed the cutesy creature and his mercenary friend speeding around a snowy planet.

On the television side, Jude Law plays a Jedi in “Skeleton Crew”.

The kid-centric show is “in the spirit of... coming-of-age films of the ‘80s like ‘The Goonies’ and ‘E.T.,’” promised Law.

‘Who else?’ 

The giant D23 fan gathering caters to and showcases the obsessive loyalty of Disney’s most die-hard devotees.

Every two years, thousands flock to a California convention centre, dressed as their favorite princesses and heroes.

Tickets — ranging from $80 to an eye-watering $2,600 VIP pass — allow attendees to spend yet more money on rare merchandise, and watch starry presentations unveiling new films, shows and theme park rides.

“Who else but Disney could pull off a weekend like D23, right?” CEO Bob Iger asked the packed crowd at Anaheim’s NHL professional ice hockey arena, to cheers.

Seconds later, the suited executive was replaced on stage by a troupe of hula-ing Polynesian dancers and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, promoting “Moana 2”.

But beneath the euphoria, Friday night’s presentation of new movies and TV shows comes at a key time for Disney.

The company’s Pixar and Marvel franchises have suffered uncharacteristically poor runs in recent years, with high-profile flops like “Lightyear” and “The Marvels”.

Disney’s stock price remains well below half its 2021 peak. Rounds of cost-cutting have seen thousands of jobs cut since last year, mirroring trends across Hollywood.

This summer has brought welcome relief, with monster hits “Deadpool & Wolverine”, and “Inside Out 2” — already the biggest animated film of all time.

‘Toy meets tech’ 

Pixar on Friday announced “Hoppers”, a new animated movie about a young girl who can “hop” her brain into a robotic beaver.

Out in spring 2026, it will follow her undercover adventures into the animal world, where she befriends a “regal beaver” called King George, and helps battle an evil mayor voiced by Jon Hamm.

And Pixar’s “Toy Story 5”, out a few months later, will see the beloved toys vie with electronic devices like phones and tablets for children’s attention.

“This time around, it’s toy meets tech,” said director Andrew Stanton.

ISTANBUL — Turkey has blocked the online game Roblox, which is popular among teenagers, a week after it froze access to Instagram following censorship accusations against the tech giant.

The move late Wednesday comes amid a growing codemnation of social media by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who has accused online platforms of “fascism” and failing to remove posts the authorities deem offensive.

Roblox, a platform that allows players to create their own games, has been downloaded more than 41 million times in Turkey since its launch in 2015.

Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said Roblox had been suspended because “it contains content that will cause abuse of children”. Prosecutors in Adana are investigating Roblox.

Instagram access has been blocked in Turkey since Friday.

The US-owned platform responded to the government’s accusations by saying it had taken down more than 2,500 posts at its request in the first six months of the year.

Erdogan on Monday said social network platforms “cannot even tolerate photos of Palestinian martyrs without immediately banning them”. His communications chief added that Instagram prevented posting condolence messages over the killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh.

Turkey may continue a social media crackdown as the head of a parliamentary digital platform commission, Huseyin Yayman, said there had been calls to block Tiktok.

“People who see me on the street stop me to tell me: ‘You will go to paradise if you shut down Tiktok’,” Yayman told news agency DHA.

Istanbul’s mayor and oppposition politician Ekrem Imamoglu slammed the authorities’ move, calling it “inconceivable”.

“Those who make these decisions are ignorant about the new world, the economy and technology,” Imamoglu wrote on the X social media platform.