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  • Tuesday, May. 14, 2024
Sony reports surge in profit on strong sales of movies, games and music
The Sony Pictures Plaza building is seen, Dec. 19, 2014, in Culver City, Calif. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)
By Yuri Kageyama, Business Writer
TOKYO (AP) -- 

Profit at Sony surged 34% in the last quarter on strong sales of its video games, music and movies, the Japanese electronics and entertainment company said Tuesday.

Tokyo-based Sony Corp.'s quarterly profit totaled 189 billion yen ($1.2 billion), up from 141 billion yen the year before. Quarterly sales for the maker of the PlayStation game machines rose 14% to 3.48 trillion yen ($22 billion).

For the fiscal year through March, Sony recorded a 3% decline in profit at 970 billion yen ($6.2 billion) from more than 1 trillion yen in the previous fiscal year. Its annual sales climbed 19% to 13 trillion yen ($83 billion).

Sony's operating profit was hurt by its financial services segment, which is being partially spun off next year. Sony's chief financial officer and president, Hiroki Totoki, said the company is reshaping its strategy to focus on its more profitable entertainment operations.

"We hope to improve our profitability More

  • Tuesday, May. 14, 2024
A French court clears director Roman Polanski of defaming a British actor
British actor Charlotte Lewis reacts after the verdict against filmmaker Roman Polanski Tuesday, May 14, 2024 in Paris. Roman Polanski was acquitted of defaming the actor whom he described as a liar after she accused the director of sexual assault. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
PARIS (AP) -- 

A French court acquitted filmmaker Roman Polanski Tuesday of defaming a British actor whom he described as a liar after she accused him of sexual assault. The case stems from a 2019 interview with Paris Match magazine, where Polanski allegedly called Charlotte Lewis a liar following her accusations.

The court's ruling did not address the truth of the rape allegation but focused solely on whether Polanski's comments in the interview constituted defamation against Lewis. Polanski denied the charges.

The verdict was delivered Tuesday afternoon in a Paris court.

Lewis said she felt let down by the verdict and would appeal.

"I feel sad," she said. "For us, it's not over."

Polanski was not in court. His lawyer Delphine Meillet called him to announce the news. She said the court recognized his right to challenge people who make accusations against him. She noted that the verdict came on the opening day of the Cannes Film More

  • Tuesday, May. 14, 2024
Iranian filmmaker flees to Europe after prison sentence ahead of his Cannes premiere
Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof poses during a photo call for the film "The Immigrant" at the 66th international film festival, in Cannes, southern France on May 24, 2013. Rasoulof has been sentenced to eight years in prison and lashings just ahead of his planned trip to the Cannes film festival, his lawyer told The Associated Press on Thursday, May 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Francois Mori, File)
By Jake Coyle, Film Writer
CANNES, France (AP) -- 

After being sentenced to eight years in prison, the award-winning Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof says he's fled to Europe shortly ahead of the Cannes Film Festival premiere of his latest film.

"I arrived in Europe a few days ago after a long and complicated journey," Rasoulof said in a statement dated Sunday and distributed by press agents Monday.

Last week, Rasoulof's lawyer told The Associated Press that the director had been sentenced to eight years in prison, flogging and confiscation of property by the Islamic Republic. Rasoulof's attorney, Babak Paknia, said the filmmaker was being punished for making films and signing statements.

Iranian authorities haven't yet acknowledged Rasoulof's sentence and there was no immediate comment on his departure. Rasoulof and other artists had co-signed a letter urging authorities to put down their weapons amid demonstrations over a 2022 building collapse that killed at least 29 people in More

  • Friday, May. 10, 2024
Maryland governor signs online data privacy bills
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore speaks at a bill-signing ceremony on Thursday, May 9, 2024, in Annapolis, Md., where he signed two measures into law that are aimed at safeguarding personal data online from Big Tech, including a bill making Maryland the second state to create strong limits on information collected on children. Maryland House Speaker Adrienne Jones is standing left, and Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson is standing right. (AP Photo/Brian Witte)
By Brian Witte
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- 

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore signed two measures into law on Thursday that are aimed at better protecting personal data online from Big Tech, including a bill making Maryland the second state to try to create strong limits on information collected on children.

The measure, known as the Maryland Kids Code, seeks to limit data that could be collected from children online and protect them from being flooded with harmful material they were not trying to find.

"Look, the bottom line is Big Tech has been preying on and victimizing our children for way, way too long," said state Sen. Ben Kramer, a Democrat in the suburbs of the nation's capital.

Big Tech companies sought to assure lawmakers that the industry could take care of problem without interference from the government, Kramer noted. "But the fact of the matter is, leaving the fox to guard the chicken coop has left Big Tech fat and greedy, because they have prioritized cash over our kids More

  • Friday, May. 10, 2024
Motion Picture Academy launches $500 million outreach initiative to broaden base globally
Pictured (l-r) are Academy president Janet Yang, Academy CEO Bill Kramer, and director and president of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Jacqueline Stewart during the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' public launch of Academy100, hosted by Cinecittà, on May 10, 2024 (photo by Stefano Micozzi for the Academy).
LOS ANGELES -- 

In honor of the 100th Oscars® ceremony in 2028, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has publicly launched Academy100, a $500MM (US) global revenue diversification and outreach campaign designed to expand the Academy’s worldwide scope, ensure the success of its next 100 years, and connect audiences through their shared love of cinema. The Academy announced the initiative during an in-person press conference, hosted by Cinecittà in Rome, Italy.

Support for the Academy100 campaign will endow and fund programs that recognize excellence in cinematic artistry and innovation; preserve our film history; enable the creation of world-class film exhibitions, screenings, and publications; train and educate the next generation of diverse global film artists; and produce powerful digital content. 

“The future of the Academy is global, and Academy100 will deepen our worldwide reach and impact,” noted Academy CEO Bill Kramer. “The Academy will More

  • Friday, May. 10, 2024
Target to reduce number of stores carrying Pride-themed merchandise after last year's backlash
Police officers stand outside of a Target store as a group of people across the street protest against Pride displays in the store on June 1, 2023, in Miami. Target confirmed that it won't be carrying its LGBTQ+ merchandise for Pride month in June, 2024, in some stores after the discount retailer received backlash last year for its assortment. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)
By Anne D'Innocenzio, Retail Writer
NEW YORK (AP) -- 

Target confirmed that it won't be carrying its LGBTQ+ merchandise for Pride month in June in some stores after the discount retailer received backlash last year for its assortment that also cut into sales.

Target, which operates roughly 2,000 stores, said Friday that the decision to offer Pride merchandise, including adult apparel, home products, food and beverage at the stores will be based on "guest insights and consumer research."

A Target spokeswoman declined to disclose the number of stores that won't be carrying the merchandise. But a full assortment will be offered online, Target said.

"Target is committed to supporting the LGBTQIA+ community during Pride Month and year-round," Target said in an emailed statement to The Associated Press. "Most importantly, we want to create a welcoming and supportive environment for our LGBTQIA+ team members, which reflects our culture of care for the over 400,000 people who work at Target More

  • Thursday, May. 9, 2024
Technology crushing human creativity? Apple's new iPad ad has struck a nerve online
In this image taken from a video advertisement, a hydraulic press crushes an array of creative instruments .The newly-released ad promoting Apple's new iPad Pro has struck quite a nerve online. (Apple via AP)
By Wyatte Grantham-Philips, Business Writer
NEW YORK (AP) -- 

A newly released ad promoting Apple's new iPad Pro has struck quite a nerve online.

The ad, which was released by the tech giant Tuesday, shows a hydraulic press crushing just about every creative instrument artists and consumers have used over the years — from a piano and record player, to piles of paint, books, cameras and relics of arcade games. Resulting from the destruction? A pristine new iPad Pro.

"The most powerful iPad ever is also the thinnest," a narrator says at the end of the commercial.

Apple's intention seems straightforward: Look at all the things this new product can do. But critics have called it tone-deaf — with several marketing experts noting the campaign's execution didn't land.

"I had a really disturbing reaction to the ad," said Americus Reed II, professor of marketing at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. "I understood conceptually what they were trying to do, but ... I think the More

  • Thursday, May. 9, 2024
Award-winning director Mohammad Rasoulof sentenced to prison in Iran ahead of Cannes
Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof poses during a photo call for the film "The Immigrant" at the 66th international film festival, in Cannes, southern France on May 24, 2013. Rasoulof has been sentenced to eight years in prison and lashings just ahead of his planned trip to the Cannes film festival, his lawyer told The Associated Press on Thursday, May 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Francois Mori, File)
By Jon Gambrell

The award-winning Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof has been sentenced to eight years in prison and lashings just ahead of his planned trip to the Cannes Film Festival, his lawyer told The Associated Press Thursday.

Rasoulof, 51, known for his film "There Is No Evil," has become the latest artist targeted in a widening crackdown on all dissent in the Islamic Republic following years of mass protests, including over the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini.

Iranian authorities haven't acknowledged the sentence but Rasoulof and other artists had co-signed a letter urging authorities to "put your gun down" amid demonstrations over a 2022 building collapse that killed at least 29 people in the southwestern city of Abadan. In the time since then, artists, athletes, celebrities and others have been called for questioning or faced prison sentences.

"This judgment is issued due to Mr. Rasoulof signing statements in support of the Iranian people," his More

  • Thursday, May. 9, 2024
TikTok to start labeling AI-generated content as technology becomes more universal
The TikTok logo is displayed on a mobile phone in front of a computer screen, Oct. 14, 2022, in Boston. TikTok will begin labeling content created using artificial intelligence when it's uploaded from certain platforms. TikTok says its efforts are an attempt to combat misinformation from being spread on its social media platform. The announcement came on ABC's “Good Morning America” on Thursday, May 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)
By Michelle Chapman

TikTok will begin labeling content created using artificial intelligence when it's uploaded from outside its own platform.

TikTok says its efforts are an attempt to combat misinformation from being spread on its social media platform.

"AI enables incredible creative opportunities, but can confuse or mislead viewers if they don't know content was AI-generated," the company said in a prepared statement Thursday. "Labeling helps make that context clear—which is why we label AIGC made with TikTok AI effects, and have required creators to label realistic AIGC for over a year."

The move is part of an overall effort by those in the technology industry to provide more safeguards for AI usage. In February Meta announced that it was working with industry partners on technical standards that will make it easier to identify images and eventually video and audio generated by artificial intelligence tools. The efforts would include Facebook and More

  • Wednesday, May. 8, 2024
Travis Kelce joins cast of FX's "Grotesquerie" from Ryan Murphy
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) waves after the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game against the San Francisco 49ers Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. The tight end has been cast on FX's "Grotesquerie" season. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)
By Alicia Rancilio

While his superstar girlfriend Taylor Swift resumes her world Eras tour, Travis Kelce is keeping busy.

The NFL player has joined the cast of "Grotesquerie" on FX. The series is a horror drama from Ryan Murphy, but a spokesperson for the network says it is not under the "American Horror Story" umbrella.

Late Tuesday, cast member Niecy Nash posted a series of videos to Instagram featuring her on set with Kelce.

"Guys, guess who I am working with on 'Grotesquerie'?" Kelce pops into frame and says, "Jumpin' into new territory with Niecy." A later video where she wrote "late night shenanigans" showed the two in what appeared to be a red convertible. "Look at this guy," she says. "Buckle up!" added Kelce.

And a final video featured Murphy embracing Kelce and saying, "You were wonderful." Off camera, Nash asks, "How do you feel?" Kelce replied, "Whoo! I'm just glad I didn't hurt nobody."

It's been an off-season of new jobs More

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