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United States Top Final Medals Table At Paris Olympics 2024, India At…

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The United States pipped China for top spot in the battle of medals on Sunday as Paris prepared to bring the curtain down on one of the most successful Olympic Games in history. In a thrilling finale that capped 17 days of spellbinding action, the United States women’s basketball team squeezed past France 67-66 to clinch the last gold of the Games. The win — the eighth consecutive Olympic women’s basketball won by the USA — ensured the Americans finished level with China on 40 golds each as the games drew to a close.

The USA however finished on top of the overall medal table with a total of 126 medals, with China in second place on 91.


Meanwhile, India finished on the 71st spot with six medals — five bronze and one silver.

With the last of the medals handed out, attention turned to Sunday’s closing ceremony spectacular at the Stade de France, where Hollywood star Tom Cruise is widely rumoured to feature as the countdown to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics gets under way.

Marathon magic

Sunday’s final day began with a gripping women’s marathon victory by the Netherlands’ long-distance running star Sifan Hassan.

Hassan had taken on what many considered to be a crazy gamble in Paris, competing in the 5,000m, the 10,000m and the marathon — the last two events just two days apart.

But in a jaw-dropping sprint finish, Hassan overhauled Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa to take gold by three seconds in an Olympic record of 2hr 22min 55sec.

On Friday she had taken bronze in the 10,000m after coming away with a bronze in the 5,000m.

She fell to the ground on the blue carpet in front of the golden dome of the Invalides memorial complex in the heart of Paris before grabbing a Dutch flag to celebrate an extraordinary achievement.

“It was not easy,” said Hassan, 31. “It was so hot, but I was feeling OK. I’ve never pushed myself through to the finish line as I did today.

“Every moment in the race I was regretting that I ran the 5,000m and 10,000m. I was telling myself if I hadn’t done that, I would feel great today. 

“From the beginning to the end, it was so hard. Every step of the way. I was thinking, ‘Why did I do that? What is wrong with me?’

Wrestling, weightlifting, water polo, volleyball, modern pentathlon, handball, and track cycling were the other sports to crown Olympic champions on the last day.

Hungary’s Michelle Gulyas ran and shot to Olympic gold in the modern pentathlon, with home favourite Elodie Clouvel roared on to clinch silver.

In weightlifting, China’s jubilant Li Wenwen lifted her coach into the air instead of the bar, having already secured gold.

At the velodrome, Dutch star Harrie Lavreysen surged to the men’s keirin for his third gold of the Games, ending British dominance of the event they had won at every Olympics since 2008.

New Zealand’s Ellesse Andrews blasted to the women’s sprint title to add to her keirin gold, while American cyclist Jennifer Valente won the women’s omnium.

In men’s water polo, Serbia won their third straight Olympic gold with a 13-11 victory over Croatia at La Defense Arena and pulled their coach into the pool in the celebrations.

‘Precious’

As the sport ends, attention turns to the closing ceremony and the next Olympics in Los Angeles in four years.

LA is expected to play heavily on its Hollywood star power and will roll out its big guns, with pop star Billie Eilish, rapper Snoop Dogg, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers all confirmed.

The worst-kept secret in Paris is that “Top Gun” star Cruise appears poised to close the ceremony with a spectacular stunt sequence.

Cruise is filming the latest episode of the “Mission Impossible” franchise in Europe and has been a regular feature at Olympic events in Paris.

“On August 11, the Olympic Games will be over, and the Olympic flame will be extinguished,” said Thomas Jolly, who masterminded the unique opening ceremony along the River Seine.

“That moment will remind us just how precious are these Olympic Games,” added Jolly, whose opening ceremony sparked outrage in some quarters with a scene that appeared to parody the Last Supper.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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Who Is Claudia Mancinelli? The Italian Gymnastics Coach Making Waves Online

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Who Is Claudia Mancinelli? The Italian Gymnastics Coach Making Waves Online

Her fiery personality and unapologetic confidence have made her a favourite of the internet.

Claudia Mancinelli, a former actress turned Italian rhythmic gymnastics coach, has become an unlikely social media sensation after a video of her fearlessly standing up to judges at the Paris Olympics went viral. A video of her intense, straight-faced reaction during the Gymnastics event at the Paris Olympics has taken social media by storm, earning her the royal title of “Queen” of the online world. The viral video has been seen over a whopping 34 million views. 

It all happened when the judges’ initial score threw Italian gymnast Sofia Raffaeli’s chances of victory into peril during the all-around final. However, her coach, Claudia Mancinelli, refused to let Ms Raffaeli’s hard work and dedication slip away. She stepped in, confronted the judges and demanded them to revisit their score. The 39-year-old coach’s angry march back to the bench was captured in a video that rapidly spread like wildfire. Thanks to her, Ms Raffaeli went on to win bronze in the women’s rhythmic individual all-around competition. 

Watch the video here:

Her fiery personality and unapologetic confidence have made her a favourite of the internet. Several people shared her pictures and videos online and praised her beauty and confidence. 

Who is she?

Born and raised in Fabriano, Claudia Mancinelli began her love affair with gymnastics at a tender age, training under the guidance of Kristina Ghiurova and Mirna Baldoni. Her dedication propelled her local club from Serie B to the prestigious Serie A1. However, in a surprising twist, she left sports to pursue a career in acting.

Her silver screen debut led to roles in notable films like ‘Unique Brothers’, ‘The Tourist’ and ‘Nine.’  However, fate had other plans. When renowned coach Julieta Cantaluppi stepped down just ten months before the Paris Olympics, Ms Mancinelli was called back by the federation to lead the national rhythmic gymnastics team to the Olympics.

With just a few months left for the Olympics, Ms Mancinelli faced a daunting challenge: transforming Sofia Raffaeli and Milena Baldassarri into world-class contenders. She accepted the challenge and forged an unbreakable bond with her gymnasts. Through trust, respect, and dedication, Ms Mancinelli brought out the best in them. Under her guidance, Ms Raffaeli ultimately secured a historic bronze medal in the individual all-around competition.



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Book Bank initiative in doldrums

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KARACHI:

As the academic year begins in Sindh, the Department of School Education faces another setback. Despite its efforts to address persistent textbook shortages through the “Book Bank” initiative-designed to recycle old textbooks for new classes-the program appears to have hit a roadblock.

Last year, the department fell short by approximately 2.1 million books out of a required 4.2 million, and the initiative’s failure, experts believe, will only exacerbate the ongoing crisis.

According to details gathered by the Express Tribune, most students have not returned their textbooks after finishing the academic year, and those that are returned are in tatters, with torn and scattered pages, making them unusable for incoming students.

Commenting on the situation, Director of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, Arshad Baig, told the Express Tribune distribution of books was underway, with the Deputy Commissioner overseeing the process. However, when asked about the collection of old books, Baig acknowledged that no data is available on the number of books gathered. “Compiled data will be shared once available,” he added.

In a letter issued in May, Dr. Fauzia Khan, Chief Adviser of the Curriculum Wing, cautioned all school directors of delays in textbook publication and distribution due to logistical challenges. To address these delays, the department proposed retrieving textbooks from students across all school levels to establish a book bank. Another letter last month, a copy of which is available with the Express Tribune, reiterated the directive to collect textbooks and establish the book bank. However, when contacted, both a head teacher and a district education officer described the returned books as unusable.

A school principal explained that the Sindh Textbook Board provides jacket books, with multiple subjects bound in one volume. Often, he said, some parts of these volumes are missing or damaged, complicating distribution. “When new textbooks arrive, some students will have brand-new books, while others will rely on the old, tattered ones,” he added, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

Troubles in production

Last year, 2.4 million sets of textbooks were provided for an enrollment of over 4.2 million students, resulting in a shortfall of approximately 2.1 million books. According to an academic expert, this gap highlights the urgent need for timely tendering and production of textbooks. The shortfall is unlikely to be addressed by initiatives like the Book Bank, which cannot ensure that returned books are in a usable condition.

According to details available with the Express Tribune, this year’s tenders for the production of textbooks were delayed until February and March, with the academic session postponed to August 15. The tendering process faced further complications from publisher disputes, which resulted in legal challenges and further delays. Even though the academic session was extended by 14 days citing weather-related concerns, the distribution of textbooks, department insiders revealed, only started this week.

In an interview with The Express Tribune, Secretary of the Sindh Textbook Board, Hafeezullah, claimed that textbook distribution had begun in Karachi and that schools in Malir had started receiving books. Hafeezullah stated that the Sindh Textbook Board anticipated collecting about 25 per cent of textbooks through the book bank. Nevertheless, with 4.4 million sets of books prepared, he assured that students would not face a shortage.

Details reveal that the School Education Department recently informed the chief minister’s office that government school enrolments in Sindh exceed 5.2 million, suggesting a potential shortfall of more than 0.7 million books.

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Accused Washed His Clothes After Raping, Killing Kolkata Doctor: Cops

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Accused Washed His Clothes After Raping, Killing Kolkata Doctor: Cops

Protests by junior doctors demanding quick punishment of those responsible.

Kolkata:

The man who was arrested on the charge of raping and murdering a doctor inside a Kolkata hospital returned to his place and went to sleep before washing his clothes the next morning to destroy evidence, a police officer probing the case claimed.

The police, however, found marks of blood on the shoe of the accused, a civic volunteer who is not associated with the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, but used to frequent the place.

The body of a woman post-graduate trainee who was allegedly raped and murdered inside a seminar hall of the hospital, was found on Friday morning. The civic volunteer was arrested on Saturday.

Protests by junior doctors demanding quick punishment of those responsible for the crime continued for the third day on Sunday, affecting services in government hospitals across West Bengal.

City Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal visited the medical establishment on Sunday for the second time in three days and held a meeting with representatives of agitating junior doctors.

He claimed the probe is “transparent” and urged people not to spread rumours.

“After committing the crime, the accused went back to the place where he was staying and slept till late on Friday morning. After waking up, he washed the clothes he was wearing during the crime to destroy evidence. His shoes, with blood stains on them, were found during a search,” the officer said.

Asked if anyone else was involved in the crime as alleged by some quarters, he said, “As of now there is no evidence of that.” The officer said that the police were waiting for the final post-mortem examination report as they wanted to match it with their probe findings.

The initial autopsy report stated that the victim was bleeding from her eyes, mouth and private parts. There were also injuries on her left leg, neck, right hand, ring finger and lips.

Another police officer said that circumstantial evidence also indicated a possibility that the doctor was first murdered and then raped.

“We are also talking to persons who were on duty on Thursday night till the next morning. CCTV footage is also being checked,” the police officer said.

A team of police officers of the SIT, along with the forensic unit on Sunday, collected samples from the seminar hall of the hospital, a police source said.

The police also reconstructed the crime scene though the arrested accused was not present, the officer said.

“The autopsy report has been handed over to the parents of the deceased doctor today by one of our senior officers. We had a fruitful meeting with the students and we think they are satisfied. As per their demand, we have removed one assistant police officer who was posted here,” the police commissioner said.

Goyal said the police are not trying to hide anyone, and the investigation is transparent.

The IPS officer said that they would soon start a toll-free number for the people to come up with suggestions or complaints.

The agitating junior doctors, however, said that they would continue their demonstration till they were totally “satisfied” and their demands regarding their safety and security were addressed.

The cease work in all emergency and non-emergency services will continue but there, one junior doctor said after the meeting with Goyal.

Junior doctors, house staff and post-graduate trainees (PGT) at various state-run hospitals, who are also demanding security for them in medical establishments, began a cease work since Friday evening. “The government must take significant steps to secure justice for the victim. The incident is not only a reflection of systemic failures at the hospital level, but it also points toward broader societal issues that demand immediate and focused attention,” he said.

In the wake of the agitation, the state health department on Sunday cancelled offs and holidays of all senior doctors to tackle the stalemate.

Support for the agitating doctors came from different corners of the country.

The Federation of Resident Doctors’ Association of India (FORDA) has supported the ongoing strike and called for a nationwide halt of elective services in hospitals on Monday.

The FORDA has informed the Union Health Ministry about their decision.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee vowed to seek death penalty for the perpetrator.

Meanwhile, Kolkata Police deployed a huge contingent at the hospital on Sunday.

“No one will be allowed inside the hospital premises without proper identification. We will ensure total safety of the health workers in the medical establishment,” the officer said.

The hospital authorities expelled the two security persons contractually employed at the emergency ward for not discharging their duties properly which, in a way, led to the crime against the doctor, another official said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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CAS Delivers Justice, Strips American Athlete Of Bronze Medal, Gives It To Romanian Gymnast

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Paris:

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that the bronze medal given to American gymnast Jordan Chiles in the floor exercise at the Paris Games will be reallocated to Ana Barbosu of Romania. It comes after a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruling upheld an appeal by the Romanian Olympic Committee that an inquiry submitted by the USA about Chiles’ score in the gymnastics floor exercise final was filed beyond the 1-minute deadline. “The IOC will reallocate the bronze medal to Ana Barbosu (Romania). We are in touch with the NOC of Romania to discuss the reallocation ceremony and with USOPC regarding the return of the bronze medal,” the IOC statement read.

The International Gymnastics Federation (Fig) also confirmed that “the ranking of the Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Floor Exercise Finals has been modified accordingly, with Ana Barbosu (ROU) ranking third with a score of 13.700.”

“The initial score of 13.666 given to Jordan Chiles (USA) is reinstated,” it added.

Jordan Chiles initially scored 13.666 in Monday’s final, placing fifth. Romanian gymnast Ana Barbosu, with a score of 13.7, believed she had won bronze. However, after Chiles’ coach, Cecile Landi, requested a review of her difficulty rating, officials upgraded her score to 13.766, moving her to third place.

This adjustment upset Barbosu, who had already begun celebrating, and led to a protest from the Romanian team.

After the medal ceremony, the Romanian team filed its own appeal, noting that Team USA’s appeal occurred outside the one-minute time limit to question the judges’ scores.

In reinstating Chiles’ score to 13.666, CAS said that “The Federation Internationale de Gymnastique shall determine the ranking of the final of the women’s floor exercise and assign the medal(s) in accordance with the above decision.”

Following the CAS ruling, USA Gymnastics and the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee issued in a joint statement, saying, “We are devastated by the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling regarding women’s floor exercise. The inquiry into the Difficulty Value of Jordan Chiles’ floor exercise routine was filed in good faith and, we believed, in accordance with FIG rules to ensure accurate scoring.”

“Throughout the appeal process, Jordan has been subject to consistent, utterly baseless and extremely hurtful attacks on social media. No athlete should be subject to such treatment. We condemn the attacks and those who engage, support or instigate them. We commend Jordan for conducting herself with integrity both on and off the competition floor, and we continue to stand by and support her,” it added.

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Interior Minister Naqvi meets Turkish ambassador, announces free online visas for turks

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ISLAMABAD:

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met with Turkish Ambassador Dr Mehmet Pacaci at the Ministry of Interior on Friday, where they discussed Pakistan-Turkey bilateral relations and matters of mutual interest in detail.

During the meeting, both sides agreed to enhance cooperation in the fields of security, police, and civil armed forces. It was also decided that Pakistani police officers will be sent to Turkey for training as part of an exchange programme aimed at strengthening ties between the two nations’ law enforcement agencies.

Naqvi announced that starting from 14 August, Turkish citizens will be able to obtain free online visas to Pakistan. He noted that this initiative will facilitate easier travel for Turkish nationals and further deepen the bonds between the two countries.

The Minister also revealed his plans to visit Turkey in October at the invitation of the Turkish Government. He stated that during his visit, he will propose productive steps to enhance mutual cooperation between the two nations.

The minister mentioned that Pakistanis consider Turkey as their second home. “Both countries have long-standing religious, cultural, and trade ties and we are desirous of further strengthening these relations”, he added.

The release of Pakistani prisoners in Turkiye was another key issue discussed during the meeting, with both sides agreeing to finalise an agreement on the matter soon.

Turkish Ambassador Dr Mehmet Pacaci reaffirmed Turkiye’s commitment to its brotherly relations with Pakistan, emphasising that Turkiye places great importance on continuing and expanding cooperation in various fields.

Federal Secretary Interior Khurram Ali Agha and Additional Secretary Interior Riffat Mukhtar Raja were also present at the meeting.

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Amanda Bynes spotted with new look during rare public appearance in Los Angeles

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Amanda Bynes, the former Nickelodeon star, was recently seen in Hollywood during a rare public appearance, sporting a new look. The 38-year-old actress was photographed on Wednesday, August 7, with jet black hair and long nails as she took a stroll in the city. Bynes was dressed casually in an oversized gray t-shirt, khaki shorts, and a crossbody bag.

This sighting marks one of the few public appearances Bynes has made in recent years. In March, she shared with her followers that she would “start wearing wigs now” after getting a buzzcut in late 2023. Bynes explained that she was unhappy with how her hair was growing out, describing it as “growing out so awkwardly.”

In addition to discussing her hair, Bynes has been open about her struggles with weight gain due to depression. She mentioned earlier this year that she hoped to lose over 50 pounds to reach her goal weight.

Bynes, who gained fame in the late 1990s and early 2000s with roles in All That and The Amanda Show, has largely stayed out of the public eye in recent years, focusing on her personal well-being. Her recent appearance in Los Angeles has sparked interest among fans who have been following her journey.



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Hindenburg Chose Character Assassination, SEBI Chief Madhabi Buch And Husband’s Statement

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'Hindenburg Chose Character Assassination...': SEBI Chief And Husband's Statement

SEBI chief Madhabi Puri Buch and husband Dhaval Buch have slammed Hindenburg Research

New Delhi:

SEBI chief Madhabi Puri Buch and husband Dhaval Buch have said US short seller Hindenburg Research has attempted character assassination of the SEBI chairperson, instead of replying to the show cause notice for rule violations in India.

“The investment in the fund referred to in the Hindenburg report was made in 2015 when they were both private citizens living in Singapore and almost two years before Madhabi joined SEBI, even as a Whole Time Member,” the Buchs said in a statement today.

“The decision to invest in this fund was because the Chief Investment Officer, Anil Ahuja, is Dhaval’s childhood friend from school and IIT Delhi and, being an ex-employee of Citibank, JP Morgan and 3i Group plc, had many decades of strong investing career,” they said.

“As confirmed by Anil Ahuja, at no point in time did the fund invest in any bond, equity, or derivative of any Adani group company…” the couple said.

“Hindenburg has been served a show cause notice for a variety of violations in India. It is unfortunate that instead of replying to the show cause notice, they have chosen to attack the credibility of the SEBI and attempt character assassination of the SEBI Chairperson,” they said.

(Disclaimer: New Delhi Television is a subsidiary of AMG Media Networks Limited, an Adani Group Company.)



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Bangladesh On Attacks On Religious Minorities

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'Grave Concern': Bangladesh On Attacks On Religious Minorities

Dhaka, Bangladesh:

Bangladesh’s new interim government said Sunday it was working to resolve attacks on Hindus and other religious minorities reported after the dramatic ouster of autocratic premier Sheikh Hasina.

Hindus are the largest minority faith in mostly Muslim Bangladesh and are considered a steadfast support base for Hasina’s party, the Awami League.

After Hasina’s abrupt resignation and flight abroad on Monday brought an end to her 15 years of autocratic rule, there were numerous reports of attacks against Hindu households, temples and businesses.

“The attacks on religious minorities in some places have been noted with grave concern,” the interim cabinet said in its first official statement since its Thursday appointment.

The cabinet said it would “immediately sit with the representative bodies and other concerned groups to find ways to resolve such heinous attacks”.

Sunday’s statement from the self-styled “council of advisors” tasked with steering democratic reforms in the South Asian nation of 170 million people listed numerous urgent priorities.

The government, led by Nobel peace laureate Muhammad Yunus, ordered “support” for the families of protesters who were killed in the weeks of demonstrations culminating in Hasina’s departure.

It directed public funds to pay for those injured in the unrest, which began in July and killed more than 450 people.

The council also said it would reopen the metro system in the capital Dhaka by the end of the week and soon appoint a new central bank governor, replacing a Hasina loyalist forced to resign.

Institutional purge

Earlier in the day a new chief justice was sworn in to office the day after his predecessor, another Hasina ally accused of sublimating the Supreme Court to her government’s will, quit following protester demands.

It is the latest in a string of fresh appointments to replace an old guard viewed as linked to the previous regime, ousted by the student-led uprising.

New top justice Syed Refaat Ahmed studied at the University of Dhaka, Oxford and Tufts University in the United States.

Ahmed replaced Obaidul Hassan after hundreds of protesters gathered outside the court to demand the latter step-down.

Appointed last year, Hassan earlier oversaw a much-criticised war crimes tribunal that ordered the execution of Hasina’s opponents, and his brother was her longtime secretary.

Hasina, 76, fled by helicopter to neighbouring India on Monday as protesters flooded Dhaka’s streets in a dramatic end to her iron-fisted rule.

Her government was accused of widespread human rights abuses, including the extrajudicial killing of thousands of her political opponents, during her 15-year rule.

Cabinet ministers left blindsided by her sudden fall have gone to ground, while several other top appointees have been forced out of office, including the national police chief.

Interim leader Yunus, 84, returned from Europe on Thursday to lead a temporary administration facing the monumental challenge of ending disorder and enacting democratic reforms.

The restoration of law and order was the caretaker administration’s “first priority”, Yunus said.

Yunus won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his pioneering work in microfinance, credited with helping millions of Bangladeshis out of grinding poverty.

He took office as “chief advisor” to a caretaker administration, comprised of fellow civilians bar one retired brigadier-general, and has said he wants to hold elections “within a few months”.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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It’s Ryan Reynolds vs Blake Lively at the box office this weekend as both movies aim for no.1

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The box office saw a rare husband-and-wife showdown this weekend as Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively’s latest films, Deadpool & Wolverine and It Ends With Us, respectively, dominated ticket sales. Reynolds’ Deadpool & Wolverine, now in its third weekend, secured the top spot with an estimated $54.2 million. Lively’s It Ends With Us followed closely behind, debuting with a strong $50 million, marking the first time in August that two movies have each surpassed the $50 million mark in the same weekend.

Directed by Shawn Levy, Deadpool & Wolverine has proven to be a significant success for Disney’s Marvel Studios, continuing to draw large audiences. Meanwhile, It Ends With Us, directed by and starring Justin Baldoni, is based on Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel and has exceeded expectations with its impressive opening weekend. The film, co-financed by Sony and Wayfarer Studios, benefited from Lively’s star power and the dedicated fanbase of the book, which drove significant ticket sales across the country.

Industry insiders have noted the impact of the couple’s back-to-back releases, with some likening it to the last time husband-and-wife superstars boosted each other’s box office performances, as Bruce Willis and Demi Moore did in 1990 with Die Hard 2 and Ghost. As the weekend progresses, the competition between Reynolds and Lively is expected to continue drawing attention, with both films performing well

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