Movie Review: 'Jurassic World Rebirth' puts a wobbly franchise back on track with superb installment

The latest “Jurassic Park” installment, “Jurassic World Rebirth,” brings fresh life to the franchise, says Associated Press critic Mark Kennedy. Directed by Gareth Edwards and written by David Koepp, it recaptures the awe of the original film. The story follows mercenaries, played by Scarlett Johansson and Mahershala Ali, hired to extract dinosaur DNA for a pharmaceutical company. Set on a decaying island research station, the plot mixes heist elements, genetics and thrilling dinosaur encounters. Stunning visuals, nods to classic blockbusters and well-paced action elevate the film. At the end, it even adds a monster movie. Opening Wednesday, it’s rated PG-13 and runs 133 minutes.

Jury deliberations begin and quickly hit a snag at Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ sex trafficking trial

NEW YORK (AP) — Jury deliberations quickly hit a snag at the Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex trafficking trial. The panel of eight men and four women began their closed-door discussions Monday and barely an hour later the foreperson alerted the judge that a juror was having trouble following the judge's instructions. The judge reminded them to follow what he said. The 55-year-old Combs has pleaded not guilty. Jurors heard seven weeks of sometimes graphic and emotional testimony about Combs’ propensity for violence and his sexual predilections, including drug-fueled sex marathons dubbed “freak-offs” or “hotel nights.” Defense lawyers acknowledge that Combs could be violent but maintain that the sex acts were consensual.

Who's calling? A reporter, and it's often President Donald Trump answering

Reporters are used to calling sources on the telephone for quotes and information. But dialing up the leader of the free world? There's evidence that President Donald Trump is making greater use of his phone to conduct interviews, often on the spur of the moment. Several were done in the wake of the U.S. bombing of Iran. It's a seemingly paradoxical development for the leader of an administration that has shown its hostility to the news media on several fronts. Trump also has assented to interviews with callers for whom he's shown hostility in the past.

Book Review: Critic Maris Kreizman charts her political awakening in smart, funny essay collection

Maris Kreizman is a 40-something book critic, columnist for Lit Hub and one-time podcaster. In her debut essay collection “I Want to Burn This Place Down,” she looks back on her life to explain how she became disillusioned with so many institutions in American society. While conventional wisdom has it that people grow more conservative as they age, Kriezman’s life experiences have pushed her further and further to the left with every year. Associated Press reviewer Ann Levin says Kreizman has written a thoughtful, witty and poignant account of her political awakening. Published by HarperCollins/Ecco, “I Want to Burn This Place Down” will be released on Tuesday.

Czech Philharmonic says Jakub Hrůša will become chief conductor in 2028

PRAGUE, Czech Republic (AP) — The Czech Philharmonic says Jakub Hrůša will become its new chief conductor and music director. He will take over in 2028 for a five-year term, replacing Semyon Bychkov. Hrůša currently leads the Bamberg Symphony in Germany. He is also set to become music director of London’s Royal Opera House this September. He has been a frequent guest conductor for top orchestras worldwide and has been the Czech Philharmonic’s principal guest conductor since 2018. He says he is “overjoyed” to lead the Czech Philharmonic.

Erie Seawolves will be renamed the Moon Mammoths after being picked for rebranding by John Oliver

NEW YORK (AP) — The Detroit Tigers’ Double-A Erie Seawolves will be renamed the Erie Moon Mammoths after being picked by John Oliver of HBO’s “Last Week Tonight.” Oliver devoted a May 4 segment to names and promotions of minor league baseball teams, announcing his rebranding proposal. Two weeks later, he said Erie, based in Pennsylvania, had been selected after 47 submissions. On Sunday, Oliver announced he had picked Moon Mammoths. The name was inspired by the 1991 discovery of woolly mammoth remains by George Moon, a Summit Township resident who found a bone while scuba diving in Lake Pleasant, about 8 miles south of Erie. The mammoth remains are housed in the State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg.

Apple Music marks 10 years with new studio for artists, fans and the future of sound

CULVER CITY, Calif. (AP) — As Apple Music turns 10 this year, the popular streaming service is celebrating a major power move: Apple Music Studios. The new studio, set to open in mid August, is a three-story, 15,000-square-foot creative playground in the Los Angeles area to help artists dream big and connect deeper with fans. There are two cutting-edge radio studios inside primed for spatial audio, live interviews, off-the-cuff convos and surprise performances. Just steps away sits a massive 4,000-square-foot soundstage, nestled in Culver City, is ready to host everything from live sets to fan events and film-style shoots. It’s Apple’s boldest bet on the future of music, sound and storytelling.

UK police probe Bob Vylan's festival chants against Israeli military, as US revokes band's visas

LONDON (AP) — British police have launched a criminal investigation into a performance by rap-punk duo Bob Vylan at the Glastonbury Festival on Saturday, when the group led chants of “death to the IDF,” or Israel Defense Forces. The U.S. State Department has revoked their visas, citing the performance as a “hateful tirade.” The BBC said it regretted livestreaming the act and called it antisemitic. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has condemned the chants as hate speech. Irish-language band Kneecap, which has been in the headlines for its pro-Palestinian stance, is also under investigation. Police said both performances have been recorded as public order incidents.

Glastonbury mixed pop and politics long before the Bob Vylan controversy

LONDON (AP) — The Glastonbury Festival is making headlines for controversy rather than music. Little-known rap-punk duo Bob Vylan have drawn politicians’ ire and a police probe after leading a chant calling for “death” to the Israeli military. But this isn’t the first time politics has collided with pop at the festival. For half a century, Britain’s big political and cultural divides have found their way onstage at Glastonbury. Founded in 1970, the festival is known for its commitment to environmentalism and other progressive causes. Performers have often spoken out about the political issues of the day, including in 2016 when the festival was overshadowed by Britain's vote to leave the European Union.

Royal train to end 156 years of service as King Charles III seeks to economize

LONDON (AP) — The Royal Train will soon leave the station for the last time. Buckingham Palace says King Charles III has accepted that it’s time to decommission the train, whose history dates back to Queen Victoria, because it costs too much to operate and would have needed a significant upgrade for more advanced rail systems. The train, actually a suite of eight royally-appointed railcars that can be hitched to commercial locomotives, will be decommissioned sometime before the current maintenance contract expires in 2027.