LONDON (AP) — If all the world’s a stage, William Shakespeare is its architect. The playwright died 400 years ago Saturday, but remains the world’s most famous writer, living on through endlessly reinterpreted plays and globally known characters, including the tormented prince Hamlet and the star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet . The long-dead Bard is … Continue reading
MADRID (AP) — Spain commemorated the 400th anniversary of the death of its best-known writer, Miguel de Cervantes on Saturday. Events took place throughout the country celebrating the author of “Don Quixote,” one of the most influential books in world literature and a work generally regarded as the precursor of the modern novel. In Alcala … Continue reading
WATERBURY, Conn. (AP) — A confident Donald Trump told supporters Saturday that he’s “not toning it down,” a day after his chief adviser assured Republican officials the GOP front-runner will show more restraint on the campaign trail. “I’m not toning it down,” Trump told a cheering crowd of 3,000 people, packed into a high school … Continue reading
NEW YORK (AP) — Sean Hannity is getting a bruising reminder that this year’s presidential campaign defies traditional political rules. The Fox News Channel and radio host had a nasty spat with Sen. Ted Cruz this past week, following criticism from both the left and right about his interviews with Donald Trump. Fox also aired … Continue reading
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Two rock bands have become the latest to cancel concerts in North Carolina because of the state’s new law on LGBT rights. In a statement issued Monday on the band’s website, Pearl Jam called the law “a despicable piece of legislation that encourages discrimination against an entire group of American citizens.” … Continue reading
BERLIN (AP) — One of Germany’s main history museums is exhibiting racist and anti-Semitic stickers spanning more than a century, a show that comes as the country worries about increasing racism amid the migrant crisis. The show at the German Historical Museum in Berlin features about 600 stickers and replicas, racist and anti-racist. Among the … Continue reading
When you come back to a beloved place after many years, sometimes you find all the faces have changed and the vibe is completely different. Not so with Ice Cube’s “Barbershop.” Though the third film in the franchise comes a dozen years after part two, “Barbershop: The Next Cut” is as colorful and clever as … Continue reading
NEW YORK (AP) — The 15th annual Tribeca Film Festival kicked off fashionably with the premiere of Andrew Rossi’s “The First Monday in May,” a behind-the-scenes documentary about the mounting of an ambitious fashion exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the museum’s annual star-studded Met Gala. The film is an intimate and lively … Continue reading
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Taking a page from Donald Trump’s playbook, Intel CEO Brian Krzanich is trying to do for the chipmaker what Trump did for his political career: give it a boost by being on national TV. Krzanich is the central and most credible tech expert of the five judges who will pick a … Continue reading
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Tom Staggs, the presumed front-runner to replace Bob Iger as CEO of The Walt Disney Co., is leaving the company next month. The surprise announcement Monday means Disney will have to look further for Iger’s successor after he steps down in June 2018, a date the popular chief executive has extended … Continue reading
ATLANTA (AP) — Daniel Murphy was a huge hit in his Washington debut with a home run and a go-ahead double in the 10th inning, and the Nationals rallied past the Atlanta Braves 4-3 in their season opener Monday. NL MVP Bryce Harper also went deep in his first plate appearance of the season for … Continue reading
NEW YORK (AP) — A new single by Phife Dawg, who died last month, is coming out Tuesday, with portions of the proceeds going to charity. The late hip-hop artist’s wife Deisha and manager Dion Liverpool announced Monday that “Nutshell” will debut Tuesday on Beats 1 Radio and will be available on iTunes. A video … Continue reading
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Model and TV host Janice Dickinson has revealed that she’s got breast cancer and vows to battle the disease. “Janice is going to fight and she will not let this diagnosis define her. She wants to encourage all women to have regular checkups, as that is how her cancer was … Continue reading
BIDDEFORD, Maine (AP) — When it comes to auctions, America’s favorite pastime apparently trumps Hollywood. The Maine auction house that’s putting items that once belonged to New York TV personality Joe Franklin up for bid says the greatest interest is in a baseball glove that belonged to Babe Ruth. Troy Thibodeau from Saco River Auction … Continue reading
NEW YORK (AP) — Barbara Cook’s return to a New York stage in a show about her life has been postponed. Producers said Monday that “Barbara Cook: Then and Now,” conceived by James Lapine and directed by Tommy Tune, will not be staged this spring at the New World Stages complex. In a statement, producer … Continue reading
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Snoop Dogg heard the call of the wild, and he responded. The rapper is providing commentary for nature and other videos on “Planet Snoop,” a new series on his Merry Jane website. The world learned of Snoop Dogg’s skill as nature host when his parodies of the “Plant Earth” documentary series … Continue reading
NEW YORK (AP) — He’s been a rapper, actor, singer, entrepreneur, record producer and clothing designer. Now Sean “Diddy” Combs has taken on a new job as the founder of a charter school in New York City’s Harlem neighborhood. Combs announced Monday that the Capital Preparatory Harlem Charter School will open in the fall. The … Continue reading
GAINESVILLE, Ga. (AP) — Entertainer Katt Williams and a teenager have each been charged with disorderly conduct after fighting each other at an apartment complex, police in metro Atlanta said Monday. Williams, 44, and Luke Wash, 17, were both charged in connection with the fight last week, Gainesville Police Sgt. Kevin Holbrook said Monday. He … Continue reading
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Redskins have released Robert Griffin III, four years after trading a bevy of draft picks to take the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback with the No. 2 overall choice. The NFC East champions announced the move Monday. They had made clear it was coming. The Redskins had until Wednesday to part ways with … Continue reading
“Off the Grid” (G.P. Putnam’s Sons), by C.J. Box After the events of the previous novel “Endangered,” Nate Romanowksi has been living off the grid. He uses his survival skills to stay off the radar to protect both himself and the people he cares about. One morning, men from a top-secret government agency arrive to … Continue reading
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The key questions jurors are deliberating in Erin Andrews’ $75 million lawsuit are whether two hotel companies bear any responsibility for a stalker renting a room next to the sportscaster and taking a nude video of her, and if so, how much they should pay. Jurors started their deliberations Monday after … Continue reading
NEW YORK (AP) — Fresh off his Grammy triumph, Kendrick Lamar has released a new batch of old music. The eight-song collection titled “untitled unmastered.” was made available Friday on iTunes, Apple Music, Tidal, Spotify and GooglePlay. None of the songs has a title, just what seem to be dates, ranging from 2013 to 2016. … Continue reading
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland marked the 90th birthday of the country’s leading filmmaker, Andrzej Wajda, with special showings of his films and exhibitions honoring his life. Wajda, whose movies focus on key moments in Poland’s history and draw from Polish literature, is still active. He is currently working on a movie about Polish avant-garde … Continue reading
Here’s how U.S. and world political leaders are reacting to the death of former U.S. first lady Nancy Reagan: ___ “Nancy Reagan once wrote that nothing could prepare you for living in the White House. She was right, of course. But we had a head start, because we were fortunate to benefit from her proud … Continue reading
NEW YORK (AP) — Ack! There’s a picture book coming about Bill the Cat. Philomel Books, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers, told The Associated Press on Monday that it was publishing Berkeley Breathed’s “The Bill the Cat Story: A Bloom County Epic.” Philomel is calling the book the “origin story of fan-favorite Bill the … Continue reading
Spartan Echo 