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AP National Entertainment News

‘Star Wars’ and ‘Indiana Jones’ rarities are in Lawrence Kasdan’s university archive

By MIKE HOUSEHOLDER Associated Press ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Researchers, documentary filmmakers and others will soon be able to get their hands on screenwriter and director Lawrence Kasdan’s papers at his alma mater, the University of Michigan. Archivists are about a quarter of the way through cataloging the 150-plus boxes of material that document

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Sophie Kinsella, author of the millions-selling ‘Shopaholic’ novels, dies at 55

By JILL LAWLESS and ALICIA RANCILIO Associated Press LONDON (AP) — Writer Sophie Kinsella, whose effervescent rom-com “Confessions of a Shopaholic” sparked a millions-selling series, died Wednesday, her family said. She was 55 and had been diagnosed with brain cancer. The family said in a statement on Kinsella’s Instagram account that “she died peacefully, with

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Jake Heggie’s new opera ‘The Judgment of Paris’ will mix mythology and an infamous wine competition

By RONALD BLUM Associated Press In what figures to be a score for refined palates, the famous 1976 wine tasting in which California selections stunningly triumphed over older French vineyards will be portrayed in the opera “The Judgment of Paris” by composer Jake Heggie. A rare comedy by Heggie, known best for turning Sister Helen

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Former ‘Real Housewives’ star moved from prison to community program for remainder of her sentence

By The Associated Press Jennifer Shah, a former star on “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City,” has been moved from a federal prison into a community confinement program after serving less than half of her sentence for defrauding thousands of people. A Bureau of Prisons spokesperson confirmed that Shah was transferred Wednesday morning from

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Iceland says it will boycott Eurovision over Israel’s participation

LONDON (AP) — Iceland’s national broadcaster said Wednesday it will boycott next year’s Eurovision Song Contest because of the participation of Israel, joining four other countries in a walkout of the pan-continental music competition. Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland and Slovenia told the European Broadcasting Union last week that they will not take part in the

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UN recognizes compas, a Haitian music and dance genre that has marked generations and brought joy

By DÁNICA COTO and EVENS SANON Associated Press PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Compas, a beloved Haitian music and dance genre inspired by merengue and infused with percussion, made UNESCO’s cultural heritage list on Wednesday. The syncopated rhythm, created in the 1950s, wafts from bars, bedrooms and businesses across Haiti, lifting spirits and providing solace from

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US playwright Jeremy O. Harris released 3 weeks after arrest in Japan for alleged drug smuggling

By MARI YAMAGUCHI Associated Press TOKYO (AP) — The American playwright and actor Jeremy O. Harris has been released from detention in Japan three weeks after he was taken into custody on suspicion of smuggling the psychedelic drug ecstasy. The 36-year-old Harris, known for his Tony-nominated “ Slave Play,” was freed from police custody Monday,

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Paramount says China’s Tencent withdrew from its Warner Bros bid to avert national security issues

By ELAINE KURTENBACH AP Business Writer BANGKOK (AP) — Paramount Skydance says the Chinese gaming and social media giant Tencent Holdings withdrew from its bid to buy Warner Bros Discovery to avert a possible national security review. Paramount’s revised filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission of its takeover bid said the Chinese company

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