“ANORA” won the Oscar for Best Picture and Mikey Madison (at right) for Best Actress.

“Anora,” an independent film made for $6 million, was the big winner as it grabbed five awards including “Best Picture,” “Best Actress” and “Best Director” on Sunday night at the 2025 Oscars.

The 97th Academy Awards were held in the Dolby Theater in Hollywood and the winners on the major categories are:

• Best Supporting Actress: Zoe Saldana (“Emilia Perez”)
• Best Supporting Actor: Kiernan Culkin (“A Real Pain”)
• Best Director: Sean Baker (“Anora”)
• Best Picture: “Anora.”
• Best Actress: Mikey Madison (“Anora’)
• Best Actor: Adrian Brody (“The Brutalist”)

Choosing up sides on Trump-Zelensky rift

In the aftermath of the angry rift that played out in the White House between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday, public figures are lining up to support one side or the other

UKRAINIAN President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Shutterstock).

On the side of Trump, according to the Associated Press, were many Republican Congressional leader and White House staff criticized Zelensky, calling on him to apologize to Trump and even to resign.

Leaders of Western European nations, on the other hand, rallied around Ukraine. British Prime Minister Keir Starker said that the United Kingdom, France and Ukraine will work together to develop a plan to present to the United States to end the fighting and that will have American approval.

He aded that Britain will now dedicate $2 billion to Ukraine to purchase over 5,000 air defense missiles

A “coalition” of the willing” will be created to defend Ukraine, he added, and will participate with ground troops and military aircraft, although he didn’t name the countries that have agreed to take part.

Weather: Headed for some rain

They say that March comes in like a lion and leaves like a lamb. That may be overstating the comparison, but the first few weeks for our West Orange County cities is forecast to have more rain than sunshine.

Monday should have a daytime high of 66 with an overnight low 47 with some sunshine. Tuesday will warm to 69 (50) with partly cloudy skies.

But after that, Wednesday and Thursday are forecast for two days of rainfall with a daytime high of 61 and an overnight low of 47.