Leonardo DiCaprio and Jeff Bezos lead $200M project to save 100 of globe's most threatened species

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Foundations funded by Leonardo DiCaprio and Jeff Bezos have launched a $200 million initiative to revive 100 of Earth's most threatened species. Organizers announced Tuesday that DiCaprio's Re:wild and the Bezos Earth Fund are leading the Phoenix Species Project. They call it the largest single fund dedicated to recovering critically endangered species across continents. The initiative aims to sustain species like the golden-crowned sifaka, the Hickory Nut Gorge green salamander and the Visayan warty pig. The project's goals include providing long-term support to successful but fleeting smaller efforts, offering a global platform and technical support.

AI-driven Ring Cycle sparks boos at 150th anniversary Wagner Festival

BAYREUTH, Germany (AP) — Artificial intelligence sparked boos at the 150th anniversary performance of Wagner’s Ring Cycle. The audience was frustrated that the software could integrate images but not drama. The staging was subtitled “From Myth to Code." It was intended to be a history of “Der Ring des Nibelungen," a series of four operas about the destruction of gods by humans, giants and dwarfs. Computers were fed about 1,000 images from 15 prior Bayreuth Ring productions. After Saturday night's concluding “Götterdämmerung,” the conductor and cast were greeted with a 17-minute ovation interrupted by 30 seconds of booing.

Comedian Jenny Yang uses a comedy tour to uplift immigrants, one grocery store at a time

Comic Jenny Yang has turned cultural grocery stores into comedy clubs for her summer tour. She's been performing in these unique venues to entertain and support immigrant communities. The Good Egg Immigrant Grocery Store Stand Up Comedy Tour is partly a response to immigration crackdowns. Yang's performances have expanded from an initial five to nearly 20 shows. She started in Los Angeles and has traveled to cities like Minneapolis and Phoenix. The tour will wrap up in L.A. on Sept. 26. Yang's goal is to bring joy and highlight the importance of these cultural spaces.

Ariana Grande withdraws from London musical and will take a break from the public eye

LONDON (AP) — Ariana Grande has pulled out of an upcoming stage musical in London. Grande was set to star alongside Jonathan Bailey in “Sunday in the Park With George” at the Barbican theater in 2027. Empire Street Productions said Sunday that Grande will no longer be part of the production. A representative told People magazine that the 33-year-old singer will step back after completing the Eternal Sunshine Tour to take a break from “endless, ongoing public scrutiny.” Grande has been the subject of rampant online speculation about her health and appearance. Her tour is due to wrap up in London on Sept. 1.

‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ beats ‘Avengers: Endgame’ box office record

“Spider-Man: Brand New Day” has broken the “Avengers: Endgame” record for the biggest North American opening weekend. Sony Pictures says Monday that the film earned $360 million in ticket sales from theaters in the U.S. and Canada. This marks a new milestone, surpassing the previous $357 million record set by “Avengers: Endgame” in 2019. The success of “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” and “The Odyssey” has contributed to a record weekend for theaters. The domestic box office is up over 15% from last year, with over $6.2 billion in ticket sales to date.

Former '60 Minutes' correspondents Pelley, Alfonsi go from newsroom to classroom

Sharyn Alfonsi and Scott Pelley, two correspondents recently ousted from "60 Minutes," will be moving from the newsroom to the classroom. Columbia Journalism School announced Monday that the two will serve as Journalists in Residence for the upcoming academic year. Alfonsi and Pelley, who lost their "60 Minutes" positions two months ago amid a major shakeup engineered by CBS News leader Bari Weiss, will mentor students, give lectures and contribute to the Columbia Journalism Review. Dean Jelani Cobb said students would now have access to two of the best investigative journalists in the field.

Singapore bans 2 Massive Attack members after pro-Palestinian display at concert

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Singapore has banned the two core members of the British band Massive Attack from reentering the country. This follows their display of a Palestinian flag and support for a political cause during a concert last week. Singapore police said the men were investigated for their actions during the July 29 concert, including shouting “Free Palestine” on stage. They received stern warnings and were blacklisted. The police emphasized the importance of maintaining racial and religious harmony. Massive Attack expressed surprise and disappointment, stating they were proud of their actions and urged freedom of expression without fear of persecution.

Beloved author Benjamin Alire Sáenz, first Latino PEN/Faulkner winner, dies at 71

NEW YORK (AP) — Benjamin Alire Sáenz, the first Latino to win the PEN/Faulkner prize, has died at 71. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing announced he died after a lengthy illness. Sáenz, born in New Mexico, was an ordained Catholic priest who came out as gay in his 50s. He wrote the acclaimed novel “Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe.” The book won the Stonewall and Lambda Literary Awards in 2013. Lin-Manuel Miranda, who narrated the audio edition, expressed his heartbreak over Sáenz's death. Sáenz's other works include “Everything Begins & Ends at the Kentucky Club.”

What to Stream: 'Ted Lasso,' Billie Eilish, Stray Kids, 'You Me & Tuscany' and 'The Shards'

This week, streaming platforms offer a variety of new entertainment options. “Ted Lasso” returns for its fourth season on Apple TV, while Billie Eilish's concert film, co-directed with James Cameron, debuts on Paramount+. The romantic comedy “You, Me & Tuscany” streams on Peacock, and the sci-fi thriller “The Last House” is available on Netflix. Stray Kids release their new mini-album “This & That” on Friday. Meanwhile, the series adaptation of “The Shards” premieres on FX on Hulu. For gamers, “Beast of Reincarnation” and “Big Walk” launch on various platforms, promising unique adventures.

'Sopranos' actor Vincent Pastore, known for playing mobsters and tough guys, dead at 80

NEW YORK (AP) — Vincent Pastore, a veteran actor who played mobsters and tough guys, and was best known for portraying Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero on “The Sopranos,” has died. He was 80. Bob McGowan, who had managed Pastore since his run on “The Sopranos,” told The Associated Press that he learned of his death Saturday from another client and actor on the show, Vincent Curatola. He said that he had been found in his home on New York’s City Island after not being heard from for a few days.