American rock climber Alex Honnold reaches top of Taipei 101 skyscraper without ropes
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — American rock climber Alex Honnold has ascended the Taipei 101 skyscraper without any ropes or protective equipment. Cheers erupted from a street-level crowd as he reached the top of the spire of the 1,667-foot tower about 90 minutes after he started on Sunday. Wearing a red short-sleeve shirt, he waved his arms back and forth over his head. Honnold's free solo climb of the iconic building in Taiwan's capital was being broadcast live on Netflix. The ascent was delayed for 24 hours due to rain.
Natalie Portman, Seth Rogen, Jenna Ortega arrive for Sundance Film Festival premieres
PARK CITY, Utah (AP) — The Sundance Film Festival features the world premieres of two comedies on Saturday. Olivia Wilde's “The Invite” debuted at the Eccles Theater in Park City, Utah. It marks her third directorial effort and is a return to her comedic roots. The film, written by Will McCormack and Rashida Jones, stars Wilde and Seth Rogen as a couple hosting a revealing dinner with their neighbors, played by Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton. Following “The Invite” was Cathy Yan’s “The Gallerist,” starring Natalie Portman as a gallerist involved in a bizarre plot at Art Basel. Both films are seeking distribution at the festival.
Hermès menswear designer Nichanian takes final bow after 37 years
PARIS (AP) — With Paris Fashion Week menswear heading into its final weekend, Hermès marked a transition as Véronique Nichanian presented her final men’s collection after 37 years leading the house’s menswear. She then stepped out to acknowledge a standing ovation. The Fall-Winter 2026 show was staged Saturday at the Palais Brongniart, the former Paris stock exchange. The front row blended Hermès executives with a broader-than-usual mix of musicians, actors and designers. Singer Usher was seen ahead of the show with Hermès executive chairman Axel Dumas. Rapper Travis Scott, actors James McAvoy and Chace Crawford, and designer Paul Smith were among those attending.
Robert Redford remembered for his mentorship of new filmmakers at Sundance gala
PARK CITY, Utah (AP) — Filmmakers whose careers were shaped by Robert Redford and the Sundance Institute he founded are honoring his legacy at the first Sundance Film Festival since his death. The 2026 festival is a love letter to the haven Redford established in Utah decades ago for stories that didn’t fit into the mainstream. His daughter said it was his Sundance Institute lab programs for writers and directors that brought him the most pride. Several program alumni and others who Redford mentored shared stories on stage Friday night at a star-studded gala honoring his legacy.
Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, K-pop and more: AP predicts who will win at the 2026 Grammys
Kendrick Lamar leads the 2026 Grammys nominee pack, but Lady Gaga, Bad Bunny and others are vying for their moment in the spotlight. But who will take home trophies on Sunday? Associated Press Music Writer Maria Sherman and Entertainment Writer Jonathan Landrum Jr. break down the close races for Grammy glory. They predict victories for Lamar, Lady Gaga, Rosé and Bruno Mars. They also expect close genre races across country, Latin and pop. The 68th Grammy Awards will be held Feb. 1 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles and air on CBS and stream on Paramount+.
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Dave Franco and O’Shea Jackson Jr. lead road movie gone wrong, bringing comedy to Sundance
PARK CITY, Utah (AP) — The Sundance Film Festival is showcasing more comedies this year, including Macon Blair's new film. The movie stars Dave Franco and O’Shea Jackson Jr. as two down-on-their-luck guys hired to transport a troubled teen, played by Mason Thames, to a treatment facility. It premiered Friday night in Park City, Utah, and is seeking distribution. Blair and Alex Orr began working on the story over a decade ago. Franco joined as a producer and helped finalize the project. Blair hopes the film finds a distributor open to a theatrical release.
Inside Super Bowl week's concerts, parties and celebrity scene heading into big game
Super Bowl week unfolds in the Bay Area with a mix of sports, music, and celebrity events. The week kicks off with leadership and media events, including the Sports Power Brunch on February 4. On February 5, Bad Bunny and other performers take the stage at the NFL media event, followed by the NFL Honors. February 6 features concerts by Shaquille O’Neal, Post Malone, and Kehlani. On February 7, Dave Chappelle's comedy show highlight the day. Game day on February 8 includes fan experiences like Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Tailgate near Levi’s Stadium.
In operatic dispute, Met Opera director and designers order names stripped from 'Carmen'
NEW YORK (AP) — The production team of Bizet’s “Carmen” at the Metropolitan Opera demanded their names be removed from programs due to a restaging decision. Director Carrie Cracknell’s version, which opened on Dec. 31, 2023, moved the setting to a modern American town. The revival included a Jaguar convertible and three pickup trucks that moved. A restaging decision removed the Jaguar, added a motorcycle and used one stationary pickup. Set designer Michael Levine expressed frustration, saying it altered the original artistic intent. The Met cited financial reasons for the changes. The company plans to bring back Richard Eyre’s retired 2009 staging in the future.
Alex Honnold's climb of Taipei 101 skyscraper delayed by 24 hours
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Organizers are delaying professional rock climber Alex Honnold’s ropeless ascent of the Taipei 101 skyscraper for 24 hours due to weather. Netflix said Friday in announcing the delay that safety was their priority. Honnold’s free solo climb of the iconic building in Taiwan’s capital city was supposed to broadcast live on Netflix on Saturday local time, or Friday evening for viewers in the U.S. It will now air Saturday evening in the U.S. Fans in Taipei expressed understanding of the decision to postpone, saying Honnold's safety comes first. About 100 people had gathered to watch his attempt.
King Charles III believes ‘harmony’ can help save the planet. His documentary explains how
LONDON (AP) — King Charles III has teamed up with Amazon Prime to make a film about his vision for saving the planet, 16 years after he wrote a book on the subject. The documentary delves into Charles’ concept of “harmony,” the idea that restoring the balance between the human and natural worlds is crucial to combatting global warming and many other major problems facing humanity. The king also confronts his critics, who have lampooned him as a dilettante flitting aimlessly from one cause to another with no rhyme or reason. “Finding Harmony: A King’s Vision,” will be available on Amazon from Feb. 6. The narrator is Kate Winslet.

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