Connect with us

World

China Box Office: ‘Zootopia 2’ Remains on Top, ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ Places Third

Published

on

China Box Office: ‘Zootopia 2’ Remains on Top, ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ Places Third

China’s theatrical market cooled further in the Jan. 9–11 frame, with Disney’s “Zootopia 2” holding on to the No. 1 spot for a second consecutive weekend after it reclaimed pole position last week.

“Zootopia 2” added RMB49.1 million ($6.9 million), according to Artisan Gateway, lifting its cumulative total to RMB4.31 billion ($607.2 million).

Maoyan Movie’s crime thriller “The Fire Raven” stayed close behind in second place, earning $6.8 million. The film continued to show solid traction, pushing its running total to $42.3 million after less than two weeks in release. Directed and written by Sam Quah, the film stars Peng Yuchang, Alan Aruna and Chang Ning and follows the reopening of a long-dormant murder case that exposes a wider network of corruption and revenge.

James Cameron’s sci-fi epic “Avatar: Fire and Ash” moved to third, grossing $6.5 million over the weekend. The 20th Century Studios release has now reached $146.6 million in China.

Advertisement

Huace Film & TV’s “Back to the Past” placed fourth with $4.9 million, taking its cumulative haul to $33.7 million. The feature film adaptation of Hong Kong broadcaster TVB’s 2001 historical sci-fi series “A Step Into the Past” is produced by Louis Koo‘s One Cool Film Production, with Koo serving as producer. The project reunites the principal cast from the original television series 24 years after it first aired. Koo stars alongside Raymond Lam, Jessica Hsuan, Sonija Kwok, Joyce Tang and Michelle Saram, all reprising their original roles. New cast members include Bai Baihe, Michael Miu and Louis Cheung. The film marks the final screen appearance of the late Dick Liu Kai-chi.

Rounding out the top five was Chuanqiren Media’s family drama “Unexpected Family,” which collected $900,000 million and stands at $5.5 million to date. The comedy-drama is co-written and directed by Li Taiyan and centers on a young man who leaves his small town for Beijing and ends up entangled with an elderly man with Alzheimer’s who mistakes him for his son. The film stars Jackie Chan, Peng Yuchang, Zhang Jianing and Pan Binlong.

Overall, the China box office generated $31.6 million for the weekend. Year-to-date takings for 2026 have reached $162.4 million, running 9.9% ahead of the same period last year, though the market is clearly settling into a quieter post-festive rhythm with an eye on the Lunar New Year holiday next month when several big ticket releases are expected to bow.

World

Hantavirus-stricken cruise ship arrives at Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands

Published

on

Hantavirus-stricken cruise ship arrives at Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands

TENERIFE, Spain (AP) — A hantavirus-stricken cruise ship with more than 140 people on board has arrived at Tenerife, the largest of Spain’s Canary Islands, off the coast of West Africa, where the passengers and some of the crew are to disembark.

The World Health Organization, Spanish authorities and cruise company Oceanwide Expeditions have said that nobody on board the MV Hondius is currently showing symptoms of the virus. Three people have died since the outbreak, and five passengers who left the ship are infected with hantavirus, which can cause life-threatening illness.

As a hantavirus-stricken cruise ship is set to arrive at Granadilla port in Tenerife, Spain on Sunday morning, the WHO, Spanish authorities and cruise company Oceanwide Expedition are coordinating the disembarkation of passengers and some crew on ground.

Advertisement

The ship will not dock but will remain at anchor, with people ferried off in small boats. Everyone disembarking will be checked for symptoms, and will only be taken off the ship once evacuation flights are ready to fly them to their destinations.

There are currently people of more than 20 different nationalities on board.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, along with Spain’s health and interior ministers, were to be supervising the evacuation of the ship. Authorities have said the passengers and crew members who will disembark will have no contact with the local population.

Hantavirus usually spreads when people inhale contaminated residue of rodent droppings and isn’t easily transmitted between people. But the Andes virus detected in the cruise ship outbreak may be able to spread between people in rare cases. Symptoms usually show between one and eight weeks after exposure.

Advertisement

Continue Reading

World

North Korea updates constitution to require automatic nuclear strike if Kim Jong Un is assassinated: report

Published

on

North Korea updates constitution to require automatic nuclear strike if Kim Jong Un is assassinated: report

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

North Korea has updated its constitution to require a retaliatory nuclear strike if leader Kim Jong Un is assassinated, according to a report.

The Telegraph reported the change comes amid heightened global tensions following the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other officials during a recent conflict.

Khamenei was killed in an Israeli strike in Tehran as part of a coordinated U.S.-Israeli military operation earlier this year, Fox News Digital previously reported.

The constitutional revision was approved during a session of North Korea’s Supreme People’s Assembly, which opened March 22 in Pyongyang, the outlet said.

Advertisement

ISRAEL TARGETS IRAN’S SUPREME LEADER IN SWEEPING STRIKES AS US JOINS ‘OPERATION EPIC FURY’

North Korea launched two cruise missiles and three anti-ship missiles from the destroyer Choe Hyon on Sunday, April 12, 2026, according to North Korean state media. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service/AP)

South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) briefed senior government officials this week on the update, according to the report.

The revised policy outlines procedures for retaliatory action if North Korea’s leadership is incapacitated or killed.

“If the command-and-control system over the state’s nuclear forces is placed in danger by hostile forces’ attacks … a nuclear strike shall be launched automatically and immediately,” the updated provision states.

Advertisement

KIM JONG UN CALLS SOUTH KOREA ‘MOST HOSTILE ENEMY,’ SAYS NORTH COULD ‘COMPLETELY DESTROY’ IT

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un delivers a speech at the inauguration ceremony of Saeppyol Street in Pyongyang on Feb. 15, 2026. (KCNA via KNS/AFP)

Reuters previously reported that North Korea revised its constitution to define its territory as bordering South Korea and remove references to reunification, reflecting Kim’s push to formally treat the two Koreas as separate states.

That marked the first time North Korea included a territorial clause in its constitution.

Last month, Kim pledged to further strengthen the country’s nuclear capabilities while maintaining a hard-line stance toward South Korea, which he has called the “most hostile” state.

Advertisement

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Kim Jong Un reportedly observed missile test launches in North Korea on Sunday, April 12, 2026. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service)

Kim has also accused the United States of “state terrorism and aggression,” and signaled North Korea could take a more active role in opposition to Washington amid rising global tensions.

Fox News Digital’s Alex Nitzberg and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

World

Iran warns US against attacks on tankers; Israel kills dozens in Lebanon

Published

on

Iran warns US against attacks on tankers; Israel kills dozens in Lebanon
Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending