U.S. ranked 31st: The best place in the world to be a mother is Norway, where maternal and child mortality rates are low, women’s life expectancy and years in school are high, and the average maternity leave is about one year, according to a new study measuring the well-being of mothers and babies. Australia and Iceland join Norway at the top of Save the Children’s 12th annual Mothers Index. The United States was ranked 31st. Afghanistan came in last. Released every year shortly before Mother’s Day, the international nonprofit group’s ranking analyzes the maternal and child indicators and other relevant published information on 164 countries.
Will start new job in June: CBS says Scott Pelley will take over as its evening news anchor, starting June 6. The network announced the expected selection of Pelley, the veteran 60 Minutes reporter, to replace Katie Couric on the CBS Evening News. Couric is pursuing a syndicated talk show but hasn’t said where she will be working next. The date for her final CBS broadcast has not been set. Pelley is a Texas native who has worked at CBS for two decades. He will inherit a broadcast that is in last place in the ratings, behind NBC and ABC, and has been for some time.
‘Book of Mormon’ leads nominees: The Book of Mormon nabbed 14 Tony Award nominations today, more than any other play garnered this year, earning nods for best musical, best book of a musical, best original score, two leading actor spots and two featured actor nominations, among others. The second-highest number of nominations went to The Scottsboro Boys, a searing tale of 1930s injustice framed as a minstrel show. It received 12 nominations, including best musical, best book of a musical, best original score as well as a leading actor and two featured actor nods. Among those actors who earned nominations were Al Pacino, who played Shylock in The Merchant of Venice; Vanessa Redgrave in Driving Miss Daisy; Edie Falco in The House of Blue Leaves; and Ellen Barkin in The Normal Heart. The awards will be handed out June 12 and televised by CBS.
