Associated Press global investigation into government surveillance efforts wins Pulitzer Prize
NEW YORK (AP) — The Associated Press has won a Pulitzer Prize for international reporting for stories on the expansion of government surveillance efforts in China and the role that U.S. tech firms played in it. The Pulitzer board recognized AP staffers Dake Kang, Garance Burke, Byron Tau and Aniruddha Ghosal, along with contributor and independent journalist Yael Grauer for what it called “an astonishing global investigation into state-of-the-art tools of mass surveillance." Also included was a story about the expansion of license plate surveillance of drivers in the United States.
Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni have ended their 'It Ends With Us' dispute in a settlement
NEW YORK (AP) — Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni have agreed to end their legal battle over the acrimonious production of their 2024 film “It Ends With Us.” The two sides settled their legal dispute on Monday ahead of a planned trial over Lively’s claims that Baldoni conspired with publicists to preemptively destroy her reputation after she privately accused him of sexually harassing her on the movie set. Baldoni directed the film and starred in it with Lively. He denied harassing her or orchestrating a smear campaign. Baldoni said the complaints about his behavior were made up by Lively as part of an effort to seize creative control of the movie.
Met Gala guests from Beyoncé to Nicole Kidman set to flaunt fashion as art
Fashion biggest night is making a statement this year with its dress code, “Fashion is art." Global Editorial Director of Vogue Anna Wintour and the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute curator, Andrew Bolton, are putting their stamp of approval on the idea. Guests from Beyoncé to Nicole Kidman are sure to make an artistic spectacle with the directive. A-list stars and cultural tastemakers are set to take the Met steps Monday as part of the fundraising event for the museum's Costume Institute. For an up-close look at all the red carpet drama, Vogue will host its annual livestream of the night starting at 6 p.m.
Britney Spears pleads guilty to lesser 'wet reckless' charge in DUI case, avoids further jail time
VENTURA, Calif. (AP) — Britney Spears has avoided jail time in a California driving under the influence case by pleading guilty to a lesser charge through her lawyer. Spears was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs following her March 4 arrest in Ventura County, where she lives. She didn’t appear in court Monday, but her lawyer, Michael A. Goldstein, agreed on her behalf to what’s commonly known as a “wet reckless” guilty plea. This allowed her to be sentenced to a day in jail that the judge said she served when being booked, a year of probation, a required DUI class, and fines. The plea is standard for first-time offenders with low blood-alcohol levels. Spears recently completed a rehab stint.
Daniel Kraus’ 'Angel Down' and Bess Wohl's 'Liberation' are among Pulitzer winners in the arts
NEW YORK (AP) — Pulitzer Prize judges have awarded the fiction prize to Daniel Kraus for “Angel Down,” a World War I narrative told in one long sentence. Bess Wohl's “Liberation,” exploring 1970s feminist consciousness-raising groups, received the drama prize. The winners were announced Monday. Jill Lepore's “We the People” won for history, and Amanda Vaill's “Pride and Pleasure” took the biography award. Yiyun Li’s memoir about her sons' suicides and Brian Goldstone's work on homelessness were also recognized. Juliana Spahr won the poetry prize, while Gabriela Lena Frank received the music award for “Picaflor.”
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Demi Moore, Chloé Zhao, Stellan Skarsgård among Cannes Film Festival jurors
Demi Moore, Chloé Zhao and Stellan Skarsgård are among the jurors who will decide the Palme d’Or at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, organizers announced Monday. Just about a week before the 79th Cannes begins May 12, organizers unveiled the nine-member jury that will deliberate on the films in competition at the annual French Riviera festival. As already announced, South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook is president of the jury. Along with him, Moore, Zhao and Skarsgård, the jurors are: Irish-Ethiopian actor Ruth Negga, Belgian director and screenwriter Laura Wandel, Chilean director and screenwriter Diego Céspedes, Ivorian American actor Isaach De Bankolé and Scottish screenwriter Paul Laverty. The festival runs May 12-23.
Netflix's 'Lord of the Flies' is a harrowing descent into horror. The cast had a ball
NEW YORK (AP) — A new Netflix series adapts William Golding's “Lord of the Flies,” exploring chaos among boys stranded on a tropical island. The show, premiering Monday, follows more than two dozen British boys in the 1950s as they descend into tyranny. David McKenna, who plays Piggy, suggests the story's themes remain relevant today. Adapted by Jack Thorne and directed by Marc Munden, the series highlights different characters in each episode. Filming took place in Malaysia, and despite challenges, the cast bonded. The series examines democracy's fragility and the dangers of groupthink, with a modern twist on the classic tale.
Electrical fire forces closure of Broadway theater that hosts 'The Book of Mormon'
NEW YORK (AP) — A fire has forced the closure of the Broadway theater that has long hosted “The Book of Mormon.” Officials say the blaze began in an electrical room, causing substantial damage to the Eugene O'Neill Theatre. The venue will be closed for some time, pending repairs, according to New York Fire Department Assistant Chief David Simms. A spokesperson for “The Book of Mormon” did not immediately respond to messages. “The Book of Mormon” is among Broadway’s longest running shows, with more than 5,000 performances since opening at the Eugene O’Neill Theater in 2011.
‘The Devil Wears Prada’ struts to first place with $77 million debut
Studio estimates on Sunday say "The Devil Wears Prada 2" has topped the box office with $77 million in the U.S. and Canada and $156.6 million internationally. Women drove the success, making up 76% of ticket buyers. The sequel, featuring Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep, sees Andy Sachs working again for Miranda Priestly. Critics had mixed reviews, but 74% of viewers would recommend it. The film cost $100 million to produce, a significant increase from the original. Meanwhile, the Michael Jackson biopic "Michael" took second place with $54 million. This weekend kicks off Hollywood's critical summer movie season.
Actors and studios strike a tentative 4-year deal, easing fears of another Hollywood shutdown
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Television and movie actors have reached a tentative four-year contract agreement with studios and streaming services. The deal must be approved by the board of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and ratified by members. If approved, it would prevent a repeat of the 2023 actors strike. The agreement was announced Saturday in a joint statement from SAG-AFTRA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. Details will remain private until the union's board reviews them. Key issues included protections against AI for actors and improved residuals. Negotiations took about six weeks.
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