Oprah Winfrey taps a 'riveting' debut novel for her book club

NEW YORK (AP) — Oprah Winfrey has chosen Amanda Rizkalla's debut novel, “Hungered,” as her new book club pick. The novel, released in May, follows a 12-year-old girl navigating poverty and family struggles. Winfrey describes it as a “riveting novel” about families living on the margins and their perseverance. Rizkalla is a Los Angeles native who studied at Stanford and received a master's in fine arts from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Like many authors before her, she learned of her selection through a surprise call from Winfrey. Rizkalla expressed disbelief and excitement about the honor. Winfrey's podcast conversation with Rizkalla is available on YouTube.

Alito says Supreme Court can’t stem emergency appeals and voices concern over Trump’s rhetoric

WASHINGTON (AP) — Some of President Donald Trump's rhetoric about members of the Supreme Court isn't sitting well with one of his favorite justices. Samuel Alito tells The Associated Press that personal criticisms from the president and his administration may undermine public trust in the court. Alito also says he finds it “offensive” to be regarded by some as a justice in the “MAGA" camp and insists his decisions are not political. He spoke to AP about his new book addressing the surge in the court's emergency docket. Trump has called Alito one of history's greatest justices even as he's maligned justices he appointed as “unpatriotic” and “a shell of their original selves.”

Tony Gilroy on leaving the politics of 'Andor' behind for his 9-composer music drama 'Behemoth!'

NEW YORK (AP) — Tony Gilroy’s “Behemoth!” premiered over the weekend as the centerpiece of the New York Film Festival. Gilroy’s first film since the Star Wars series “Andor” concluded its acclaimed two-season run, “Behemoth!” was one of the festival’s most keenly awaited movies. Pedro Pascal stars as a perpetually on-the-run cellist and former prodigy who has returned to Los Angeles to score films. His life is as messy as his playing is flawless. “Behemoth!” is both a rigorously scripted, time-shifting character study in the mold of Gilroy’s 2007 masterpiece, "Michael Clayton,” and a resonant ode to the art of movie scoring. In an experimental gambit, Gilroy cast nine composers, dubbed the Behemoth Collective, to fill the movie with music.

Jeffrey Archer, bestselling British novelist and scandal-ridden politician, dies at 86

Bestselling British author Jeffrey Archer has died. He was 86. Archer's publisher said he died peacefully at his home Monday, a day before the global release of his final novel “Adam and Eve." He is best known for his novel “Kane and Abel.” Archer’s professional life often teetered between triumph and turmoil. His career as a politician was derailed by a perjury conviction in 2001 that led him to spend just over two years in prison. While in Parliament, he sought to change the laws of succession to give equal rights to the daughters of royals. His efforts inspired the Succession to the Crown Act of 2013.

Jim Bakker, who lost his ‘PTL Club’ televangelism empire in sex and money scandals, dies at 86

Jim Bakker, who along with his first-wife Tammy Faye built an evangelical empire around the hugely successful “The PTL Club” TV show, only to lose it all over a sex scandal and financial crimes, has died. He was 86. His second wife, Lori Bakker, said in a statement that Bakker died Monday. His cause of death was not immediately clear. The pair lived near the Missouri entertainment town of Branson and filmed their TV show “The Jim Bakker Show” there since it launched in 2003. Bakker suffered a stroke in 2020.

Italy’s Meloni follows pop stars in seeking to trademark her voice to combat AI deepfakes

ROME (AP) — Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni has applied to trademark her voice with the European Union intellectual property office in a bid to bolster protections against AI-generated deepfakes. The application includes a four-second audio recording of Meloni saying, “Io sono Giorgia Meloni” (“I am Giorgia Meloni”), a phrase linked to her political brand and a famous 2019 speech. The filing comes as concerns grow over AI tools that can mimic voices and images. Meloni has repeatedly warned about the dangers of deepfakes after fake images of her circulated online. The application remains under review and would not automatically block AI-generated imitations, but could strengthen legal protections.

Movie Review: Falling rocks, avalanches, heroism and greed converge in 'The Last First: Winter K2'

"The Last First: Winter K2" is a harrowing documentary by Amir Bar-Lev that explores the dangerous commercialization of extreme climbing. The film follows Icelandic mountaineer John Snorri Sigurjonsson and the father-son Pakistani team of Ali and Sajid Sadpara as they attempt to scale K2 in winter, a feat never before achieved. Associated Press critic Jocelyn Noveck writes that Bar-Lev presents some extraordinarily intimate footage in this tale of egos, heroism, greed and the unforgiving power of nature. It's a tale of life and death on the mountain. Streaming now on Apple TV.

Michael Douglas on 'immortality,' Kirk Douglas and the memories he once avoided

NEW YORK (AP) — Michael Douglas, the award-winning actor and producer, recently turned 82 and has released a memoir titled “One Helluva Ride.” In it, he reflects on his life, career, and family legacy, beginning with a message of thanks to his family for the “sense of immortality” they provide. The memoir, which publishes Tuesday, is framed around the making of some of his most notable movies, including “Basic Instinct” and “Wall Street.” Douglas discusses his complex relationship with his late father, Kirk Douglas, and his own journey through rebellion, success and personal challenges, including his battle with cancer and substance abuse.

Pope Francis' diaries to be published next month, revealing reflections on Vatican years

NEW YORK (AP) — Pope Francis' journal entries from his time in the Vatican and years before will be published this fall. Image, an imprint of Penguin Random House, announced Monday that "The Private Diary of Pope Francis" will be released worldwide on Nov. 24. The publishing house says the book will provide insights into the late pontiff's hopes, fears, struggles, and prayers. The personal reflections span from December 1992 to August 2024. The first Latin American pope was known for his humility and outreach to marginalized communities. He was sometimes controversial, especially regarding LGBTQ+ Catholics and comments on political issues such as immigration. He died last year at age 88.

PEN America: Nearly 12,000 school book bans in a year, a record high

NEW YORK (AP) — A new study from PEN America reveals that there were nearly 12,000 book bans in public schools over the past year, the highest since tracking began five years ago. Stephen King remains the most banned author for the second year. Many bans occur in Florida and Texas, where restrictive laws and political pressure have increased removals. School administrators increasingly use AI to decide which books to ban. Themes of race, sexuality, and gender identity are common reasons for challenges. PEN America emphasizes that book bans limit access to diverse views and literature. The study found nearly 12,000 bans affecting 7,370 works, with 4,500 on the list for the first time.