China's K-pop worries: The reasons why a ban on Korean entertainment has lasted a decade
BEIJING (AP) — BTS is back after a three-and-a-half year break, but their world tour is skipping China. This comes as no surprise, as China has blocked most South Korean entertainment since 2016. The ban started when South Korea allowed a U.S. anti-missile system on its soil, angering China. It isn't total, though. Non-Korean members of K-pop groups can perform in China, and pop-up stores selling K-pop merchandise are popular. South Korean entertainment companies have shifted their focus away from China, with Japan and North America becoming key markets. China has never officially acknowledged the ban.
Hip-hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa dies at age 68
Afrika Bambaataa, a hip-hop pioneer, has died of prostate cancer in Pennsylvania at age 68, according to his lawyer. Known for tracks like “Planet Rock,” Bambaataa was a key figure in hip-hop's development and founded the Universal Zulu Nation art collective. Born Lance Taylor in the South Bronx, was influential in shaping hip-hop and electro-funk music. His legacy has been celebrated worldwide, but recent years saw it overshadowed by allegations of sexual abuse from multiple men. Despite his contributions, the serious allegations have complicated his impact on the music world.
Pink to host the 2026 Tony Awards on June 7 at Radio City Music Hall
NEW YORK (AP) — Pink has been chosen to host the Tony Awards, set for June 7 at Radio City Music Hall. The three-time Grammy winner is known for her high-energy performances and acrobatic live shows. Pink expressed her excitement, calling it an honor to celebrate Broadway, a community she admires for its talent and inclusivity. Although she hasn't appeared on Broadway, Pink has had multiple hits on the Billboard Hot 100. Tony Award producers praised her as a fearless artist who embodies live performance. The 2026 awards will air on CBS and stream on Paramount+. Last year's show drew 4.85 million viewers.
Dave Chappelle helps keep Ohio radio station rooted in hometown with restored building
YELLOW SPRINGS, Ohio (AP) — Dave Chappelle has helped secure the future of a small-town radio station by funding the renovation of a historic building in Yellow Springs. The newly restored 19th-century schoolhouse will house NPR affiliate WYSO, preventing its relocation. More than 200 people gathered Thursday to celebrate the ribbon-cutting. Chappelle's investment allows the station to stay locally rooted and maintain editorial independence. He emphasized the station's importance as a "beacon for sanity" in a fragmented media landscape. The project reflects Chappelle's ongoing commitment to his community, where he has become deeply embedded.
Kara Swisher examines the science, tech and business of living longer in new CNN docuseries
NEW YORK (AP) — Kara Swisher begins her new CNN series on longevity and health in a cemetery, reflecting on her father's death. The series, “Kara Swisher Wants to Live Forever,” explores how health and tech can extend life. It premieres Saturday. Swisher investigates wellness trends and tech innovations, from AI companions to gene editing. She remains skeptical of quick fixes and critiques the wellness industry's lack of hard science. Swisher's journey includes visits to South Korea, where she examines its high life expectancy. She also creates a 3D clone of herself, exploring the implications of living for generations.
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On a New Kids on the Block cruise, Emma Straub found a way past grief
Emma Straub, known for novels like “Modern Lovers” and “The Vacationers,” has a new book inspired by a fan cruise. After her father, the novelist Peter Straub, died, she found herself drawn to the idea of a cruise as a setting. Her latest work, “American Fantasy,” is about a fictional band. Straub explains that the New Kids on the Block cruise's unique environment and the personal journeys of middle-aged women inspired her story. She also shared insights from co-owning the Books Are Magic bookstores in Brooklyn and emphasized authenticity in writing.
Films by Almodovar, Pawlikowski and Hamaguchi lead an auteur-heavy Cannes Film Festival lineup
New films by Polish filmmaker Paweł Pawlikowski, Japanese writer-director Ryusuke Hamaguchi and Spain’s Pedro Almodovar will premiere at the 79th Cannes Film Festival next month. Organizers for the South of France festival laid out a lineup heavy on big-name international auteurs at a news conference Thursday in Paris. This year, 21 films will vie for the Palme d’Or. That includes “Fatherland,” a Cold War drama starring Sandra Hüller; “All of a Sudden,” the French language debut for Hamaguchi; and Almodovar’s “Bitter Christmas.” Cannes is so far light on Hollywood releases and American filmmakers, though Ira Sachs, Jane Schoenbrun and Ron Howard will debut films. The festival runs May 12 through 23.
Federal judge finds Pentagon is violating court order to restore access to reporters
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge has ruled that the Defense Department is violating his earlier order to restore access to the Pentagon for reporters. U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman sided with The New York Times earlier this month in deciding that the Pentagon’s new credential policy violated journalists’ constitutional rights to free speech and due process. He sided again with the Times in saying that the Pentagon had tried to evade his ruling by putting in new rules that expel all reporters from the building unless guided by escorts. Friedman had ordered Pentagon officials to reinstate the press credentials of seven Times reporters and stressed that his decision applies to “all regulated parties.”
Movie Review: Halle Bailey seeks romance in the hills in frothy ‘You, Me & Tuscany’
Halle Bailey is an aspiring New York chef who gave up culinary school to care for her mother. She's spending her days working as a professional house-sitter. Then she meets an Italian who has an empty villa in Tuscany. He doesn't invite her there, but she goes anyway, and runs into all kinds of classic rom-com trouble as she seeks love in the hills and vineyards. “You, Me & Tuscany” is as frothy and inconsequential, writes Associated Press critic Jocelyn Noveck in her review, as the foam on one of its cappuccinos. Regé-Jean Page of “Bridgerton” fame is the chief love interest.
Megan Moroney, Miranda Lambert and Ella Langley lead 2026 ACM Awards nominations dominated by women
NEW YORK (AP) — Megan Moroney leads the 2026 Academy of Country Music Awards with nine nominations. That includes a first-time nomination for the top prize of the night, entertainer of the year. Women appear to dominate the nods. Moroney is followed by Miranda Lambert, the most-decorated artist in ACM Awards history, with eight. Then it is Ella Langley and Lainey Wilson tied with seven. The nominations for the 61st annual ACM Awards were announced Thursday. The awards ceremony will take place May 17 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Performers will include Lambert, Wilson, Cody Johnson, Kacey Musgraves, Little Big Town, Riley Green and more.
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