Israel Threatens Eurovision Pull-Out if Entry Vetoed 

Jerusalem —  Israel on Sunday warned that it may withdraw from this year’s Eurovision Song Contest if organizers reject the lyrics from its entry as too political. Eden Golan and her song “October Rain” were chosen to compete in the annual competition, which is being held in May in Malmo, Sweden. Media reports have suggested … Read more

‘Past Lives,’ ‘American Fiction’ And ‘The Holdovers’ Are Big Winners at Independent Spirit Awards

Celine Song’s quiet romance “Past Lives” won two of the biggest awards at the Film Independent Spirit Awards Sunday afternoon, including best feature and best director. Other big winners were Cord Jefferson’s comedic satire ” American Fiction,” with Jeffrey Wright winning for lead performer; and Alexander Payne’s ” The Holdovers,” which won prizes for Da’Vine … Read more

‘One Love’ Gets More Box Office Love, No. 1 for Second Week

Los Angeles —  For a second straight week, biopic “ Bob Marley: One Love” continues to exceed expectations by claiming the No. 1 spot at the box office, overcoming two debut films and Sony’s “Madame Web” that’s still producing subpar numbers. The Paramount film starring Kingsley Ben-Adir pulled in $13.5 million during its second week … Read more

Japan’s ‘Naked Men’ Festival Succumbs to Aging of Population

Ōshū, Japan —  Steam rose as hundreds of naked men tussled over a bag of wooden talismans, performing a dramatic end to a thousand-year-old ritual in Japan that took place for the last time. Their passionate chants of “Jasso, joyasa” (meaning “Evil, be gone”) echoed through a cedar forest in northern Japan’s Iwate region, where … Read more

Dior Postpones Hong Kong Fashion Show ‘Indefinitely’

HONG KONG —  Dior has postponed a fashion show set to be held in Hong Kong next month, a city official confirmed Saturday, dealing a blow to the financial hub’s ambitions to boost its economy through major events. Hong Kong is courting top international celebrities and brands in the hope of rebooting its reputation, which … Read more

Gender-Neutral Baby Names Gain Popularity, but Traditional Names Still Rule

All About America explores American culture, politics, trends, history, ideals and places of interest. Liam. Olivia. Noah. Emma. Those were the most popular American baby names in 2022, the most recent year for which the U.S. Social Security Administration has released data. It’s a traditional trend that continues into 2024, according to Jennifer Moss, founder … Read more

Soccer Star Dani Alves Found Guilty of Rape, Sentenced to Four and a Half Years in Prison

Soccer star Dani Alves was found guilty of raping a woman in a Barcelona nightclub and sentenced to four years and six months in prison on Thursday. A three-judge panel at the Barcelona Provincial Court convicted the 40-year-old former Brazil and Barcelona defender of sexual assault for the incident on Dec. 31, 2022. The court … Read more

‘Oppenheimer’ Wins 7 Prizes, Including Best Picture, at British Academy Film Awards

London —  Atom bomb epic “Oppenheimer” won seven prizes, including best picture, director and actor, at the 77th British Academy Film Awards on Sunday, cementing its front-runner status for the Oscars next month. Gothic fantasia “Poor Things” took five prizes and Holocaust drama “The Zone of Interest” won three. Christopher Nolan won his first best … Read more

One Love’ Stirs Up $27.7 Million Weekend at Box Office

New York —  Paramount Pictures’ Bob Marley biopic “Bob Marley: One Love” outperformed expectations to debut at No. 1 at the box office with a $27.7 million opening weekend, while Sony’s “Madame Web” flopped with one of the lowest debuts for a movie centered on a Marvel character. Both films launched in theaters on Tuesday … Read more