Kevin Federline says his sons with Britney Spears are the reason for his new memoir
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Britney Spears' ex-husband Kevin Federline is telling his side of their time together in a new memoir being released Tuesday. Federline says in an interview with The Associated Press that he remained silent because of their two sons, but now that they're adults he feels an obligation to tell the whole story. In the book he describes the media frenzy that came with their two-year marriage. He writes that Spears called her ex Justin Timberlake the night before their wedding. He writes that she frightened their sons with erratic behavior that sometimes tipped into abuse. Spears says Federline's book is full of “white lies” aimed at making money.
The White House starts demolishing part of the East Wing to build Trump's ballroom
WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House has started tearing down part of the East Wing to build the ballroom President Donald Trump wants added to the building. Demolition started Monday. Dramatic photos showed construction equipment tearing into the East Wing façade and windows and other building parts in tatters on the ground. Some reporters watched from a nearby park. The Republican president has said he's adding a 90,000-square-foot ballroom because the East Room, the largest room in the White House with an approximately 200-person capacity, is too small. Trump said last week that the ballroom will fit 999 people.
One Tech Tip: How to prepare for outages that impact our online lives, from banking to chatting apps
NEW YORK (AP) — An Amazon Web Services outage on Monday disrupted many online platforms, affecting banking services, chat apps, and more. These outages can be short-lived but stressful, especially for those moving money or working online. AWS is a major cloud provider, and experts stress the importance of diversifying online services and having backup plans. Keeping money in multiple accounts and having cash on hand can help during financial service disruptions. For communication, maintaining updated SMS contacts is wise. Storing work across multiple platforms can reduce headaches. Monitoring service updates and checking outage trackers can also be useful.
Disney+ and Hulu cancellations rose after ABC briefly pulled 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!'
NEW YORK (AP) — Disney+ and Hulu subscription cancellations rose during the month that ABC briefly cancelled “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” according to data from subscription analytics company Antenna. ABC pulled the show off the air for less than a week in September in the wake of criticism over his comments related the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Antenna estimates total cancellations in September were 4.1 million for Hulu and 3 million for Disney+. The “churn rate,” or the percentage of customers that cancel their subscriptions in a specific month, jumped from 5% in August to 10% in September for Hulu. That figure jumped 4% in August to 8% in September for Disney+.
Millions of Indians celebrate Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights
NEW DELHI (AP) — Millions of Indians are celebrating the Hindu festival of Diwali, marking the victory of light over darkness. Homes and streets across the country were illuminated Monday. The dates of the festival are based on the Hindu lunar calendar and typically fall in late October or early November. The festival involves socializing, exchanging gifts and setting off fireworks. The celebrations were most visible in Ayodhya city in Uttar Pradesh state, where over 2.6 million lamps were lit. Hindus believe the deity Lord Ram was born there and returned after 14 years in exile. People light earthen lamps to mark his homecoming.
TV writer Graham Linehan won't face charges for transgender post that sparked UK debate
LONDON (AP) — Irish TV comedy writer Graham Linehan will not face charges after his arrest over social media posts critical of transgender people. British prosecutors announced the decision Monday. Linehan, known for co-creating "Father Ted" and "The IT Crowd," was arrested Sept. 1 at Heathrow Airport. His arrest sparked a debate about freedom of speech and its limits. Supporters, including J.K. Rowling, argued that U.K. laws stifled legitimate comment. Others emphasized the real-world impact of online abuse. London police said as a result of the case that it would no longer investigate non-crime hate incidents.
Horror sequel ‘Black Phone 2’ dials up a No. 1 opening
Universal Pictures says Sunday that “Black Phone 2” has topped the North American box office with an estimated $26.5 million in ticket sales. The film starring Ethan Hawke and Mason Thames opened in 3,411 theaters and received positive reviews four years after the original became a sleeper success. It's a much needed hit for Blumhouse after a string of dissapointments this year including “M3GAN 2.0.” The overall box office is up about 4% compared to last year, despite a slow October. “Black Phone 2” also earned $15.5 million internationally, bringing its worldwide total to $42 million against a $30 million budget.
Travis Hunter scores his first NFL TD but Jaguars struggle in 35-7 loss to Rams
LONDON (AP) — Jaguars rookie Travis Hunter scored his first NFL touchdown but it was too little, too late for Jacksonville in a 35-7 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday at Wembley Stadium. He had a 34-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter. Hunter finished with eight receptions for 101 yards — his best day as a pro. The Jags committed 13 penalties for 119 yards, perhaps none more costly than Jarrian Jones’ illegal block to nullify a would-be touchdown on a punt return by Parker Washington. It was still just 14-0 at that point.
Jason Momoa worked with a coach to speak Hawaiian authentically in 'Chief of War'
HONOLULU (AP) — Jason Momoa prepared for his role in “Chief of War” with a personal language coach who lived with him for nearly a year. The Apple TV series premiered in August. It is the first major TV production showcasing Hawaiian language and culture. Momoa is Native Hawaiian but didn't grow up speaking Hawaiian. He and other actors worked with coaches to master their lines. Experts say the series is a successful contribution to the language's revival. While the first episodes are mostly in Hawaiian, the language is spoken less as the series progresses. Fans are eagerly awaiting news of a second season.
Jaromir Jagr is back: At 53, the former NHL great starts his 38th professional season
KLADNO, Czech Republic (AP) — At age 53, Jaromir Jagr began his 38th professional season by playing on the fourth line for his hometown Kladno Knights in a 3-1 victory over Vitkovice in the Czech league. The former NHL great logged 10:08 minutes ice time and played on the power play unit in a season debut that had been delayed because of a muscle problem. It was Kladno’s 15th game of the season. Jagr was 53 years, 244 days old. Jagr made his debut for Kladno at age 16 and returned to the club in 2018 after the Calgary Flames released the NHL’s second all-time leading point-scorer.
