Spain is boycotting this year’s edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, after repeatedly expressing disapproval over Israel’s participation. As the Eurovision finals take place in Vienna on Saturday, Spain’s public broadcaster RTVE will air a tribute to the network’s musical history, featuring a performance by the musicians who would have represented Spain in the contest. Some Spanish fans respect the choice to take a stand by sitting out the cherished event, even if it’s bittersweet, as it means they can’t enjoy the annual spectacle with friends and family. Spain announced its boycott in December and has been joined by Ireland, Slovenia, the Netherlands and Iceland.
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Guns that are antiques or replicas of antiques are not considered firearms under federal law. The United States exempts guns manufactured in or before 1898 from most regulation, saying it would be an undue burden on collectors and history buffs. Most states have adopted that federal language, meaning even convicted felons can order black powder guns over the internet. However, at least three states make no distinction between a single-shot flintlock musket and an AR-15 semiautomatic assault rifle. A Revolutionary War reenactor says treating his musket the same as an assault rifle is silly because antique guns aren't the best weapon if someone wanted to commit mass violence.
Ted Turner’s death comes at a fraught time for cable news, which has struggled to retain viewership in an era of countless media choices and abundant streaming video. But people in the news industry left little doubt of Turner's impact. One called the discussion of it hyperbole-proof and another said he saw TV news as a global entity long before many of his contemporaries. The United States' first Gulf War against Iraq was a particular inflection point that showed both the capability of and the consumer interest in around-the-clock news.
Authorities in China say an explosion at a fireworks plant in a central Chinese province has killed at least 26 people and injured 61 others. China’s official news agency Xinhua reported Tuesday that the blast occurred at a fireworks plant in the city of Changsha in Hunan province on Monday afternoon. Hundreds of rescuers were deployed to the scene and residents in danger zones were evacuated. Authorities are investigating the cause of the blast and police have detained the person in charge of the company. Local media reported that all fireworks manufacturers in the Changsha-administered and county-level city of Liuyang have been ordered to halt production.
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.
Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni settle lawsuit over the acrimonious production of their 2024 film “It Ends With Us."
The radio station WKRP isn't dead, and it's now live on air in Cincinnati. The call letters from the fictional station featured decades ago in a CBS sitcom were adopted by stations in the Cincinnati market in time for the Monday morning drive. The station's co-owner says delighted listeners have been mobbing the phone lines. The owners obtained the call letters by making a donation to a North Carolina nonprofit whose low-power radio station has had them since 2014. The show “WKRP in Cincinnati” ran from 1978 to 1982 and starred Loni Anderson, Howard Hesseman, Tim Reid and Richard Sanders as bumbling newsman Les Nessman.
AP Wire
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.
Druski will host the 2026 BET Awards, becoming the youngest emcee in the show’s history. BET announced Thursday that the 31-year-old comedian will lead the ceremony, airing live June 28 from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Druski surpasses Kevin Hart, who previously held the distinction as the youngest host. Druski is best known for his viral sketches and has built a massive following across social media. The BET Awards, now in its 25th year, celebrates Black achievement across music, film, television and sports. The show will be produced by Jesse Collins Entertainment.
Australia is proposing to tax digital giants Meta, Google and TikTok on a part of their revenue to pay for news reporters. The government released draft legislation Tuesday that it intends to introduce to Parliament by July. It would create a financial incentive for the social media companies to strike deals with news organizations to pay for journalism. The platforms’ have said the proposal was a “digital services tax” that misunderstood the evolving advertising industry and would fail to deliver a sustainable news sector. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says a monetary value needs to be attached to journalists’ work.