Island Hopping and Globe Trotting

Duke, duchess get wax treatment

WASHINGTON » Madame Tussauds says its Washington location will start displaying wax figures of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge later this month.

The British deputy ambassador to the United States, Patrick Davies, will unveil the figures of Prince William and his wife, formerly known as Catherine Middleton, on Thursday.

Madame Tussauds says it took four months to create each figure. Catherine will be dressed in a copy of the pale lilac Alexander McQueen gown that she wore to a Los Angeles event in 2011 and a re-creation of her sapphire and diamond engagement ring. William will wear a navy suit.

‘Simpsons’ town comes to life

ORLANDO, Fla. » Duff Beer and Lard Lad Donuts — those mainstays of Homer Simpson’s diet — are now a reality. So is Springfield, the mythical city from the hit animated TV show "The Simpsons."

It’s all part of a recently opened Simpsons-themed area at Universal Orlando called Springfield. Built around "The Simpsons" ride that opened in 2008, the new zone is heavy on tasty but unhealthy food featured on the show — although there is a nod to Lisa Simpson’s love of salads in the food court.

Universal has slowly added to this area for a few years. There’s a new ride — the Kang and Kodos Twirl-n-Hurl — and a food court. The most popular item? Krusty Burgers.

For Duff Beer lovers there’s Moe’s Tavern, a replica of the show’s watering hole.

Effort aims to raise disabled ship

ROME » Italy has given the go-ahead for an ambitious attempt to set upright the Costa Concordia cruise liner, which went aground near an Italian island in 2012, killing 32 people.

The national Civil Protection agency said Friday the operation will be carried out later this month, once final safety certificates are issued.

If engineers and crews succeed in righting the Concordia, the vessel will be eventually towed to a port for dismantling.

The manslaughter trial of the Concordia’s captain, Francesco Schettino, resumes Sept. 23. The ship struck a reef, took on water and listed badly before capsizing off Giglio’s port.

Prosecutors alleged Schettino steered the boat too close to shore. Schettino says the reef didn’t appear on his navigational charts.