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Ex-celebrity lawyer Tom Girardi found competent to stand trial for alleged $15 million client thefts
Disgraced Los Angeles celebrity lawyer Tom Girardi has been found competent to stand trial on charges that he stole more than $15 million from his clients. Girardi, 84, is the estranged husband of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star Erika Jayne. Girardi pleaded not guilty in Los Angeles last year to wire fraud on charges that he embezzled from clients, including an Arizona widow whose husband was killed in a boat accident; a Los Angeles couple injured in a car wreck that paralyzed their son; and a man who was severely burned in the 2010 San Bruno gas pipeline explosion.
'Oppenheimer' will get a theatrical release in Japan, after all
“ Oppenheimer ” will get a theatrical release in Japan, after all. The Japanese distributor Bitters End said Thursday that the Christopher Nolan film will play in the country’s theaters in 2024. In a statement, Bitters End wrote that the decision was made, “following months of thoughtful dialogue associated with the subject matter and acknowledging the particular sensitivity for us Japanese.”
Spain charges pop singer Shakira with tax evasion for a second time and demands more than $7 million
Spanish prosecutors have charged pop star Shakira with failing to pay 6.7 million euros ($7.1 million) in tax on her 2018 income, authorities said Tuesday, in Spain’s latest fiscal allegations against the Colombian singer. Shakira is alleged to have used an offshore company based in a tax haven to avoid paying the tax, Barcelona prosecutors said in a statement. Shakira is already due to be tried in Barcelona on Nov. 20 in a separate case that hinges on where she lived between 2012-14.
New AP guidelines lay the groundwork for AI-assisted newsrooms
The Associated Press published standards today for generative AI use in its newsroom. The organization, which has a licensing agreement with ChatGPT maker OpenAI, listed a fairly restrictive and common-sense list of measures around the burgeoning tech while cautioning its staff not to use AI to make publishable content. Although nothing in the new guidelines is particularly controversial, less scrupulous outlets could view the AP’s blessing as a license to use generative AI more excessively or underhandedly.
Appeals court upholds Josh Duggar's conviction for downloading child sex abuse images
A federal appeals court on Monday upheld Josh Duggar's conviction for downloading child sexual abuse images, rejecting the former reality television star's argument that a judge should have suppressed statements he made to investigators during the search that found the images. A three-judge panel of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the appeal by Duggar, whose large family was the focus of TLC’s “19 Kids and Counting.” Duggar was convicted in 2021 and is serving a 12 1/2-year prison sentence.
Film composer Hans Zimmer proposes to his partner on London stage, prompts raucous audience response
A spokesperson for Zimmer confirmed that he had proposed to his partner, whose name and age were not provided. Zimmer's fans were treated to an array of music he has composed for hit films over the past few decades, including “Gladiator,” “The Dark Knight” and “Inception.” “I think it takes enormous courage to sit here, smile at you, play without flaw for three hours while you do not know what’s going on at home and everything is going on at home," said Zimmer.
Tom Hanks named Harvard's 2023 commencement speaker
Two-time Academy Award winning actor Tom Hanks was named the principal speaker at Harvard's commencement on May 25, the Ivy League university announced Tuesday. Nominated for an Oscar six times, he won best actor for “Philadelphia” in 1993 and “Forrest Gump” the following year. Harvard President Lawrence Bacow called Hanks “a true master of his craft.”
The Daniels win the DGA's top prize, an Oscar bellwether
The Directors Guild of America handed its top prize for feature filmmaking to Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert for “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” putting them on course to win at the Academy Awards next month. The 75th annual DGA Awards, held at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, on Saturday evening, denied Steven Spielberg a record-extending four wins for the guild's top honor. Spielberg had once been expected to cruise through awards season with his autobiographical “The Fabelmans,” but the strong affection for “Everything Everywhere All at Once” — the Oscar favorite with a leading 11 nominations — has come to dominate Hollywood's Oscar run-up.
'Avatar 2' tops box office for 7th weekend
“Avatar: The Way of Water” claimed the No. 1 spot on the domestic box office charts for the seventh weekend in a row with an additional $15.7 million, according to studio estimates on Sunday. It was a quiet weekend overall, notable mostly for the Hindi language blockbuster “Pathaan” that broke into the top five and the post-Oscar nominations rereleases of films like “Everything Everywhere All At Once” and “The Fabelmans.” “Avatar 2’s” first-place North American run has only been matched by the first “Avatar,” and, in the past 25 years, bested by “Titanic” (which stayed in first place for 15 weeks).
Atlanta prosecutor: Gang targeted celebrities, influencers
A prosecutor on Monday announced a sprawling indictment targeting members of what she said is a violent street gang that has been targeting the Atlanta area homes of famous athletes, entertainers and others who flaunt expensive possessions on social media. Singer Mariah Carey, Marlo Hampton of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta," Atlanta United player Brad Guzan and the Atlanta Falcons' Calvin Ridley all had their homes broken into, the indictment says.
Poll shows that 2 in 3 in U.S. favor term limits for justices
Roughly two in three Americans say they favor term limits or a mandatory retirement age for Supreme Court justices, according to a new poll from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. There has reportedly been a sharp increase in the portion of Americans who have “hardly any” confidence in the court.
Lawyer: Kardashians conspired to end Blac Chyna reality show
Kris Jenner falsely accused Blac Chyna of physically abusing Jenner’s son Rob Kardashian in a broader effort to force the couple’s reality show “Rob & Chyna” to be canceled, Chyna’s lawyer said Tuesday during opening statements in a Los Angeles trial. Chyna, a model and former reality star whose legal name is Angela White, is suing the “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” matriarch and her daughters Kim Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian and Kylie Jenner for lost earnings from the end of the 2016 spinoff after one season, and the loss of celebrity earning power that resulted from it.
Rapper Kodak Black arrested on trespassing charge in Florida
Rapper Kodak Black was arrested on a trespassing charge Saturday in South Florida, authorities said. The Broward Sheriff’s Office said Black was taken into custody in his hometown of Pompano Beach early Saturday morning, according to the South Florida SunSentinel. Black, whose legal name is Bill Kapri, later posted bond and was released, the newspaper reported.
'He-Man' artist and toy designer T. Mark Taylor dies at 80
T. Mark Taylor, artist and toy designer for the He-Man and the Masters of the Universe franchise as well as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, died Thursday at his Southern California home. The cause was congestive heart failure, Taylor's family said in an email to The Associated Press on Saturday.
Operation Whistle Pig: Inside the secret CBP unit with no rules that investigates Americans
Documents obtained by Yahoo News show that the Counter Network Division, a secretive entity within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, routinely used sensitive databases to obtain financial and personal information of journalists, government officials, congressional members, NGO workers and others.
Mötley Crüe singer Vince Neil breaks ribs in fall off stage
Mötley Crüe singer Vince Neil suffered broken ribs after falling off the stage at a concert Friday in Tennessee, his guitarist told the crowd in a video circulated widely on social media. In video footage from the performance, Neil can be seen clapping at the edge of the stage with his guitar strapped around him before his fall. The guitarist later told the crowd at the Monsters on the Mountain music festival in Pigeon Forge about Neil's injury.
Lindsay Lohan's mom Dina pleads guilty to drunken driving
Dina Lohan, actor Lindsay Lohan's mother, pleaded guilty to drunken driving on Tuesday and is expected to be sentenced to 18 days in jail and five years’ probation for rear-ending another car on Long Island and leaving the scene. Dina Lohan, 59, was driving with a suspended license on Jan. 11, 2020, when she crashed into another car near Merrick Mall, prosecutors in Nassau County said. The driver called police and followed Lohan to her home when she didn’t stop, authorities said.
Vanessa Williams to honor Juneteenth at July 4 festivities
When Vanessa Williams hosts this year’s televised Capitol Fourth celebration, she will not only honor the nation’s traditional independence day, but also the country's newly designated holiday — Juneteenth. Williams, who was the first Black woman to be crowned Miss America, will sing "Lift Every Voice and Sing,” which has served as the Black National Anthem. Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation of African American slaves and has been celebrated annually on June 19 in various parts of the United States.
'Skullduggery' political podcast: 'The "enemy of the people" (with Len Downie)' — June 5, 2021
Len Downie's career at the Washington Post lasted more than 40 years and culminated with a stint as executive editor, ending in 2008. In light of the shocking news that Trump's DOJ pursued the acquisition of email data from several New York Times reporters, and a gag order on Times leadership, Downie joins Michael Isikoff and Daniel Klaidman on this episode to discuss the role of the free press, the evolving nature and technology of the media, and the Trump administration's antagonistic relationship with the media — as well as to look back on highlights from his storied career.
AP Reviewing Social Media Policies After Firing Reporter For Tweets
In a memo to staff members on Monday, the AP’s news leaders asked for volunteers to suggest changes to social media guidelines.
AP Staffers Demand 'Clarity' On Emily Wilder Firing With Powerful Open Letter
In the wake of the 22-year-old journalist's firing for her pro-Palestinian activism in college, employees are asking for "transparency" from the news outlet.
AP Reporter Fired For Pro-Palestinian College Activism Says She's A 'Scapegoat'
Emily Wilder was fired for social media posts she made in college expressing support for Palestinians.
Biden Says He Won't Allow His DOJ To Seize Reporters' Records
It's "simply wrong," Biden says of the actions the Trump administration took.
AP President 'Shocked And Horrified' At Israel Bombing Of Gaza Media Building
The White House said it has told Israel that ensuring the safety of the press is "paramount."
Andrew McCarthy taps into 80’s nostalgia with new memoir
Andrew McCarthy admits he “fled” from his shaggy-haired 1980’s persona and didn’t look back for decades. Now a TV director, acclaimed travel writer, and best-selling author, McCarthy has been busy in recent years, if under the radar. The book helps explain the evolution of the Brat Pack — a group of young actors including Molly Ringwald and Judd Nelson who dominated movies in the 1980’s and set cultural trends — and how McCarthy and others swept into its vortex became the nostalgic “avatar of people’s youth.”
AP's Sally Buzbee Named First Female Executive Editor Of The Washington Post
The wire service veteran editor will take over from Marty Baron, who retired earlier this year.