5-year firearms enhancement dropped in Baldwin shooting case

SANTA FE, N.M. – The prosecution in the case of a fatal New Mexico film-set shooting made a stark turnaround Monday, dropping the possibility of a mandatory five-year sentence against Alec Baldwin, new court filings show. The actor-producer’s attorneys had earlier objected to the enhancement, saying it was unconstitutional because it was added after the … Read more

Embattled Don Lemon absent Monday from ‘CNN This Morning’

NEW YORK – Amid ongoing criticism over his comments about Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley, Don Lemon was absent Monday from “CNN This Morning.” Co-host Poppy Harlow told viewers that “Don has the day off.” Lemon has not been on the air since Thursday, when during a discussion on “CNN This Morning” about the ages … Read more

Rape trial of Moroccan singer Saad Lamjarred starts in Paris

PARIS – The trial of Moroccan singer Saad Lamjarred, who is accused of aggravated rape and assault, started in Paris on Monday. The 37-year-old Lamjarred, who is famous on the Arab pop music scene, allegedly raped a French woman at a luxury hotel on the Champs-Elysees in October 2016 while he was under the influence … Read more

Leiji Matsumoto, creator of ‘Space Battleship Yamato,’ dies

TOKYO – Leiji Matsumoto, the anime creator known for ”Space Battleship Yamato” and other classics using a fantastical style and antiwar themes, has died at age 85. His manga works “Galaxy Express 999” and “Space Pirate Captain Herlock” were adapted into television anime series in the 1970s and became huge hits in and outside Japan. … Read more

Ant-Man opens big at box office with $104M for ‘Quantumania’

NEW YORK – Phase five of the Marvel Cinematic Universe may have gotten off to a rocky start, but Ant-Man is bigger than ever at the box office. “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” opened with $104 million in domestic ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday, easily surpassing the box-office debuts of the previous two … Read more

‘All Quiet’ wins 7 BAFTAs, including best film, at UK awards

LONDON – Antiwar German movie “All Quiet on the Western Front” won seven prizes, including best picture, at the British Academy Film Awards on Sunday, building the somber drama’s momentum as awards season rolls toward its climax at next month’s Oscars. Irish tragicomedy “The Banshees of Inisherin” and rock biopic “Elvis” took four prizes each. … Read more