Trump urges court to reject BBC's bid to secure records from his family in defamation case
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has urged a federal judge to reject the BBC’s request for the court’s help in securing testimony and documents from three members of the president’s family in response to his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the British broadcaster. In a court filing Friday, Trump's personal attorneys argued that the BBC is trying to gain politically driven leverage over the president by serving subpoenas on Ivanka Trump, her husband Jared Kushner and Donald Trump Jr. A judge in Miami didn’t immediately rule. Trump’s lawsuit accuses the BBC of deceptively editing portions of a speech he gave to supporters who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
Early Motown songwriter Janie Bradford Hobbs dies in Los Angeles after illness at age 87
Early Motown songwriter Janie Bradford Hobbs has died, at the age of 87. She helped pen hits including “Money (That’s What I Want)” and “Too Busy Thinking About My Baby.” Her family said Saturday that she died after an extended illness at a Los Angeles hospital. Bradford Hobbs joined Motown as a receptionist in 1958. She and Gordy co-wrote “Money (That’s What I Want).” The song was recorded in 1959 by Barrett Strong and became an early hit before it was covered by The Beatles. “Too Busy Thinking About My Baby” first was recorded by The Temptations and later became a hit for Marvin Gaye.
Union for Boston Symphony Orchestra musicians authorizes first strike in ensemble's 145-year history
LENOX, Mass. (AP) — The union for Boston Symphony Orchestra musicians has authorized the first strike in the ensemble's 145-year history. The Boston Musicians' Association issued a statement ahead of the contract expiration Sunday. Relations have been strained since March, when management decided to force out music director Andris Nelsons next year. The union criticized the decision and said leadership failed to agree on a collective bargaining agreement. They also noted that management has not agreed to their proposal for a mediator. CEO Chad Smith said Saturday that BSO respects the announcement as part of the negotiations, remains focused on negotiations and is committed to reaching an agreement.
What to know about the first week of a trial in the 1996 killing of Tupac Shakur
LAS VEGAS (AP) — The trial of the man accused of orchestrating Tupac Shakur's 1996 murder has begun. Jurors heard this week about the night the rap giant was shot in Las Vegas after a brawl involving Duane “Keffe D” Davis's nephew. Davis allegedly procured the gun used in the shooting. His lawyers dispute this, claiming his past statements were exaggerated. Witnesses, including police and former gang members, have provided testimony, though some were uncooperative. Davis admitted to his involvement in past interviews that were played in court. He claims his family's safety is at risk because of the prosecution. The trial is expected to last about a month.
Fall books: Fiction takes the spotlight in bookstores during the midterm season
NEW YORK (AP) — Election news will likely fill the headlines this fall, but among book buyers fiction will likely have top billing. Authors with new novels range from romantasy favorites Sarah J. Maas and Rebecca Yarros to such Pulitzer winners as Barbara Kingsolver and Hernan Diaz. In nonfiction, expect to hear as much about the Biden administration as about the Trump White House. Former President Joe Biden will have a memoir out, “Promise Me, America.” Other Biden-related books include former Middle East envoy Brett McGurk’s “Brink” and Akbar Shahid Ahmed's “Crossing the Red Line.”
Prince Harry and 6 others must pay initial $13 million over failed invasion of privacy case
LONDON (AP) — Prince Harry and six others, including Elton John, have been ordered to pay 9.5 million pounds to the publisher of Britain’s Daily Mail. This follows their failed invasion of privacy case. Justice Matthew Nicklin announced the payment is due by Aug. 28. The group lost a High Court case in London last month, which alleged illegal phone hacking. The publisher denied the claims. The judgment comes as Harry and his family plan to move back to the U.K. Harry’s legal battles have strained his relationships with his family and the media.
5 books to read this fall, from Marlon James to Joe Biden
NEW YORK (AP) — Notable new books for the fall season range from Emma Cline's novel about a dying man's final journey to former President Joe Biden's White House memoir. Other books include fiction from Marlon James and Yiyun Li and a biography of the late Roy Cohn co-authored by Pulitzer winner Kai Bird. Cline's “Switzy” and James' “The Disappearers” were both longlisted for the Booker Prize. Li's “Music Against the Night” is her first book since the Pulitzer-winning “Things in Nature Merely Grow.'
Movie Review: Gen Z gets a moody, existential horror in ‘It Ends’
Four young 20-something friends find themselves trapped on an endless road to nowhere in the existential horror “It Ends.” The film is the directorial debut of Alexander Ullom, who also wrote the screenplay. In her review for The Associated Press, film writer Lindsey Bahr writes that “It’s a neat concept that wears a little thin after a while, but it’s a movie that shows promise not only in Ullom’s ability to create a sustained, ominous mood, but in his eye for casting a group of talented and essentially unknown actors.” “It Ends” opens in New York and Los Angeles on Friday. The film is rated R.
A question looms over Harry's return to the UK. Can he rebuild his relationship with Prince William?
LONDON (AP) — The royal family’s long-running American soap opera is returning to Britain. The question is whether it will blossom into a happy reunion or descend into anger, division and chaos. Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, plan to return to the United Kingdom from California in a matter of weeks. They have already enrolled their children, 7-year-old Prince Archie and 5-year-old Princess Lilibet, in British schools so they can start the autumn term on time with their classmates. News of the surprise decision, which broke late Wednesday in stories published by the Telegraph and Sun newspapers, has sparked widespread discussion about where the couple will live, who will pay for their security and whether they will return to royal duties one day.
China investigates comedian after he altered a revolutionary song lyric onstage
One of China’s best-known comedians is under investigation after changing lyrics of a revolutionary song during a performance. Guo Degang, a prominent xiangsheng performer, is being investigated by authorities in Wuhan. Several of his shows have been canceled, including one in Xi’an on Friday. The cancellations highlight China’s stricter controls on entertainment, where performers face unclear and shifting “red lines.” Guo altered a lyric from a song popularized by a 1950s film, which may have violated regulations. Despite prior approval for his performance, the lyric change was not authorized. This incident follows other recent controversies involving comedians in China.
