Haruki Murakami honored with awards and a jazzy tribute in New York
NEW YORK (AP) — Haruki Murakami recently received two honors in New York for his contributions to literature and cultural exchange. On Tuesday, the Center for Fiction awarded him its Lifetime of Excellence in Fiction Award. Two days later, the Japan Society celebrated him with a jazzy tribute called “Murakami Mixtape” and gave him its annual prize for fostering U.S.-Japan relations. Murakami is known for novels like “Kafka on the Shore” and “The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle.” His interests in music and culture were highlighted during the events. Murakami reflected on his experiences in New York and the evolving global presence of Japanese culture.
Hallmark holiday movie fans are flocking to Connecticut's quaint filming locations
WETHERSFIELD, Conn. (AP) — Connecticut is working to become a destination for holiday movie fans, promoting its charming towns featured in films by Hallmark and Lifetime. The state has launched the nation's first Christmas Movie Trail, a self-guided tour of locations where 22 films were made. It has sparked online buzz and boosted business for some attractions. Fans are visiting places like Wethersfield, where parts of "Christmas on Honeysuckle Lane" were shot. The holiday movie industry is booming, with 100 new films released annually. Connecticut's marketing officer says the trail is also part of a rebranding effort to promote the state as a great place to live and work.
Affable comedy acting legend Dick Van Dyke turns 100 years old
Comedy icon Dick Van Dyke is celebrating his 100th birthday. Van Dyke hit the century mark on Saturday, some six decades after he sang and danced with Julie Andrews in “Mary Poppins” and starred in his self-titled sitcom. Van Dyke won a Tony Award for “Bye Bye Birdie” to go with a Grammy and four Primetime Emmys. Just last year, he became the oldest winner of a Daytime Emmy, for a guest role on the soap “Days of Our Lives.” He also recently released a book about how to live to 100 years old. He told ABC News that 100 years is not enough and he plans to live more.
Hailee Steinfeld and NFL husband Josh Allen are expecting their first child
Actor Hailee Steinfeld and her NFL husband Josh Allen are expecting their first baby together. Steinfeld announced her pregnancy Friday in her Substack newsletter as part of a list of her favorite moments of the year. She is known for her roles in “Hawkeye,” “Sinners” and the “Pitch Perfect” franchise. Allen is a quarterback for the Buffalo Bills. The couple shared a video of Allen kneeling to kiss Steinfeld's baby bump. She is seen wearing a sweater that reads “mother.” The couple tied the knot earlier this year at a private ceremony in California after dating since 2023.
Egypt reveals restored colossal statues of pharaoh in Luxor
LUXOR, Egypt (AP) — Egypt has unveiled two colossal statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III in Luxor. The alabaster statues, known as the Colossi of Memnon, were reassembled after a two-decade renovation project. Amenhotep III ruled ancient Egypt about 3,400 years ago. The statues, which were toppled by an earthquake in 1200 BC, have been restored to revive the appearance of his funerary temple. The unveiling comes six weeks after the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum, part of efforts to boost tourism. Egypt hopes to attract 18 million tourists this year, with a goal of 30 million annually by 2032.
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Amy Schumer says she and her husband have decided to end their marriage
Comedian Amy Schumer says she and her husband, chef Chris Fischer, have decided to end their marriage. The 44-year-old actress made the announcement on social media on Friday. Schumer and Fischer were married in February 2018 in Malibu, California. Their son was born in May 2019. The two starred together in the Food Network show “Amy Schumer Learns to Cook” and the HBO mini-series “Expecting Amy” that documents her difficult pregnancy. In her social media post, Schumer says the two love each other very much and will continue to focus on raising their son.
Why a misunderstood wolf from a French supermarket ad is moving viewers worldwide
PARIS (AP) — A French supermarket's Christmas advert has captured hearts worldwide without using generative AI. The two-and-a-half-minute film, "Unloved," created for Intermarché, tells the story of a lonely wolf who chooses to change. Instead of hunting, he learns to cook and brings a homemade dish to a Christmas feast, earning friendship and acceptance. The ad's hand-crafted animation and emotional narrative have resonated with millions since its December debut. Creative director Julien Bon says the story speaks to everyone, highlighting a yearning for empathy in an age of digital divides.
Here are 10 TV shows from 2025 to catch up on before it's 2026
If you're staying in this holiday season, it's a great time to catch up on some of 2025's standout TV shows. “Dept. Q” features Matthew Goode as a detective solving cold cases. “Paradise” stars Sterling K. Brown in a sci-fi drama on Hulu. “Love Island USA” continues to entertain with its seventh season on Peacock. “The Pitt” brings Noah Wyle back to TV as a doctor. Seth Rogen's “The Studio” offers a comedic take on Hollywood. Netflix's “Adolescence” and “The Beast in Me” deliver gripping drama. “St. Denis Medical” and “The Paper” provide laughs, while “Forever” explores young love.
Christine Choy, indie filmmaker who led seminal documentary on the killing of Vincent Chin, dies
Christine Choy, a trailblazer for Asian Americans in independent film and whose documentary on the fatal beating of Vincent Chin was nominated for an Academy Award, has died. She was 73. Choy died Sunday, according to a statement from Third World Newsreel, a filmmaking collective Choy helped establish in the 1970s. No cause of death was given. Choy and co-director Renee Tajima-Peña filmed “Who Killed Vincent Chin?” after seeing how little media coverage there was of Chin's 1982 death at the hands of two white auto workers. Choy was a full-time professor at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts up until her death.
What we learned in the first two episodes of Taylor Swift's Disney+ Eras Tour docuseries
NEW YORK (AP) — The first two episodes of Taylor Swift's six-episode docuseries “The End of an Era” will premiere on Disney+ Friday. Swift appeared at an exclusive screening of the episodes in New York on Tuesday. Swift touches on the failed terror plot that resulted in the cancellation of her Vienna shows. She discusses the attacker in England who killed three girls and wounded 10 people at a Swift-themed dance and yoga class. But the series is not all doom and gloom. It also celebrates Swift's crew, dancers, choreographers and band members. There are a few special guests as well, like Ed Sheeran and Florence Welch.
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