Pope to make late Italian teenager Carlo Acutis the first millennial saint on April 27
ROME (AP) -- Pope Francis will make late teen Carlo Acutis the Catholic Church's first millennial and digital saint next year. The ceremony is expected to be held April 27, when the Vatican celebrates the Jubilee of Adolescents as part of the Holy Year celebrations. Acutis, who was born to Italian parents in London, was a web designer who died of leukemia in 2006 aged 15. Touted as the "patron saint of the internet," Acutis used his natural tech talent to create a website to catalog miracles and took care of websites for some local Catholic organizations.
Viola Davis to receive Golden Globes' Cecil B. DeMille Award
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Viola Davis became one of Hollywood's most revered actors through an array of powerful roles, from "Fences" to "The Woman King," and now, her decorated career has earned one of the Golden Globes' highest honors. Organizers announced Wednesday that Davis will receive the Globes' Cecil B. DeMille Award at the 82nd annual awards ceremony on Jan 5. The actor has won praise for a string of compelling characters in films such as "The Help," "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" and "Doubt," while captivating television audiences through the legal thriller drama "How to Get Away with Murder." Golden Globes president Helen Hoehne calls Davis a "luminary."
Comcast to spin off cable networks, once star performers for the entertainment giant
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Comcast is spinning off many of NBCUniversal's cable television networks, including USA Network, CNBC and MSNBC, into a separate public company. The shift, which comes as more and more people opt for streaming services over traditional cable, was telegraphed by the company when it released its most recent earnings last month. Mark Lazarus, current Chairman of NBCUniversal Media Group, will serve as the new entity's chief executive officer. Comcast hopes to have the spin-off completed in about a year, the cable giant said, pending board approval, financing and regulatory approvals.
Morgan Wallen and Post Malone headline a very collaborative Country Music Association Awards
Post Malone and Morgan Wallen's collaboration "I Had Some Help" could make both men big winners at the Country Music Association Awards. The huge hit is up for four awards on Wednesday night. Wallen is up for a total of seven, including the night's top prize entertainer of the year. The ABC telecast will be hosted by Luke Bryan, NFL great Peyton Manning, and last year's entertainer of the year, Lainey Wilson. Collaborations will be featured throughout the night, starting with a show-opening performance from Malone and Chris Stapleton. And George Strait will be the recipient of the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award.
The dark energy pushing our universe apart may not be what it seems, scientists say
NEW YORK (AP) -- Distant, ancient galaxies are giving scientists more hints that a mysterious force called dark energy may not be what they thought. Astronomers know the universe is expanding at an accelerating rate and they have long thought that a constant force called dark energy is what is pushing it apart. But findings published Tuesday by an international research collaboration are bolstering the suggestion first made earlier this year by the same group that there may be something else going on. By looking at the movement of galaxies over billions of years it appears as though the energy appears is changing or weakening over time.
Celtics hand Cavaliers first loss of season, winning 120-117 to end Cleveland's 15-game win streak
BOSTON (AP) -- The defending NBA champions held off the league's hottest team, with Jayson Tatum scoring 33 points and adding 12 rebounds to lead the Boston Celtics to a 120-117 victory over Cleveland and hand the Cavaliers their first loss after 15 straight wins to open the season. Tatum sank six of Boston's 22 3-pointers, and added seven assists for Boston's third straight win. Donovan Mitchell scored 35 points and Evan Mobley had 22 points and 11 rebounds for the Cavaliers. They were the fourth team in NBA history to open the season with 15 wins in a row.
An emotional Rafael Nadal retires at the Davis Cup after he loses and Spain is eliminated
MALAGA, Spain (AP) -- Rafael Nadal has lost 6-4, 6-4 to Botic van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands in the Davis Cup quarterfinals in what will be the last match of the 22-time Grand Slam champion's career. That's because Nadal's Spanish team was eliminated by the Dutch squad on Tuesday in Malaga. Carlos Alcaraz evened the matchup at 1-1 by winning the second singles match, but then van de Zandschulp and Wesley Koolhof clinched the victory for the Dutch by defeating Alcaraz and Marcel Granollers in the deciding doubles match. The 38-year-old Nadal announced last month this event would be it for him as a professional tennis player.
Prosecutors ordered not to use papers taken from Sean 'Diddy' Combs' jail cell for now
NEW YORK (AP) -- A federal judge has ordered prosecutors investigating Sean "Diddy" Combs not to use papers taken from the music mogul's jail cell until he rules on defense claims that they are trial preparation materials protected by attorney-client privilege. Judge Arun Subramanian ruled Tuesday at a Manhattan federal court hearing. Defense lawyer Marc Agnifilo said he may ask the judge to dismiss the indictment or force a recusal of prosecutors if the judge rules in his favor. The judge asked each side to submit arguments in the next month. Combs has pleaded not guilty to charges he abused women for years.
Italy recovers Etruscan artifacts worth $8.5 million bound for black market
ROME (AP) -- Italian authorities have announced the seizure of an illegal excavation of an Etruscan burial site in the central Umbria region. They are investigating two people suspected of the theft of urns, sarcophagi and other artifacts worth 8 million euros or $8.5 million intended for sale on the black market. Authorities said Tuesday that the illegal dig was adjacent to another Etruscan burial site discovered by a farmer tilling his land in 2015. Authorities were tipped off by photographs of artifacts and the site that were circulating on the black market that resembled objects found on the farmer's land.
4 monkeys remain free nearly 2 weeks after dozens escaped a South Carolina compound
YEMASSEE, S.C. (AP) -- Authorities say four monkeys remain free nearly two weeks after a group of 43 escaped from a South Carolina compound that breeds them for medical research. Alpha Genesis chief executive Greg Westergaard says in a statement relayed by police that two more rhesus macaques were recaptured Monday outside the company's facility. The monkeys made a break for it Nov. 6 after an employee didn't fully lock their enclosure. Alpha Genesis says the recaptured monkeys are in good health. Westergaard says efforts to catch the remaining escaped monkeys will continue Tuesday. He says they are probably all together in the area next to the company's property or very close by.