Entertainment News Roundup: Warner Bros Discovery plans new cost cuts, hike in Max price, Bloomberg reports; Eurovision favourites Croatia, Ukraine qualify for grand final and more

Fans in quirky and glittery outfits waved flags from the participating countries inside the arena, with many dressed up as their favourite contestant or in their national colours. Factbox-What protests are planned for this week's Eurovision in Sweden? The world's biggest live music event, the Eurovision Song Contest, is taking place in Sweden this week with 37 participating countries.

Following is a summary of current entertainment news briefs.

A Minute With: two-time Eurovision winner Loreen on the song contest, new music

Sweden's Loreen says her life "has changed so much" since her historic 2023 Eurovision win, adding she remains grateful a year on. The singer-songwriter became the first woman to win the song contest twice: in Baku, Azerbaijan, in 2012 and last year in Liverpool, England.

Russia's last Eurovision singer, now 'cancelled', still seeks to spread hope

The last singer to represent Russia at the Eurovision Song Contest before it was banned, now herself ostracised at home, hopes that a new track released on the eve of this year's final will give others the strength to speak their truth. Russian-Tajik singer-songwriter Manizha said "Candlelight" was partly a response to having her concerts cancelled and being abused online after she voiced opposition to Russia's war in Ukraine - the cause of its exclusion from Eurovision in 2022.

John Krasinski's 'IF' brings imaginary world alive for daughters

John Krasinski says he made his new film "IF" for his children. The live-action and animated fantasy comedy is written, directed and produced by Krasinski, who also plays the main character's father and voices "Marshmallow" in the movie.

Fox profit beats estimates as lower costs help offset ad revenue weakness

Fox Corp beat Wall Street estimates for third-quarter profit on Wednesday, due to lower expenses, even as its revenue tumbled more than 15% on weakness in its advertising business. The media company benefited from a near 25% fall in operating expenses in the quarter. That helped it report an adjusted profit of $1.09 per share, compared with LSEG estimates of 96 cents.

SXSW festival to launch European edition in London next year

South by Southwest, the music, technology and film festival (SXSW) held annually in Austin, Texas is coming to London next year in a new European edition. The inaugural SXSW London will take place in June 2025 in the English capital's trendy eastern area of Shoreditch.

Warner Bros Discovery plans new cost cuts, hike in Max price, Bloomberg reports

Warner Bros Discovery is looking at additional opportunities for cost-cutting and raising prices for its Max streaming platform, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people with knowledge of the matter. The cost-cutting plans could include possible layoffs at the media company which has already eliminated more than 2,000 positions over the past year, according to the report.

Olympics-French rapper Jul lights Paris 2024 cauldron in Marseille

Marseille-born French rapper Jul lit the Paris 2024 Olympic cauldron as the flame reached French soil on Wednesday. The Olympic flame relay will set off from Marseille on Thursday and make its way to Paris for the July 26 Opening Ceremony.

Isabelle Huppert to head Venice Film Festival jury

Isabelle Huppert will head the main competition jury at this year's Venice Film Festival, organisers said on Wednesday. Huppert won the best actress award in Venice in 1988 for her performance in "Story of Women" and in 1995 for "La Ceremonie".

Eurovision favourites Croatia, Ukraine qualify for grand final

Croatia and Ukraine, two favourites to win Eurovision 2024, were among the first 10 contestants to qualify for the competition's grand final on Saturday, following an initial round of semi-finals in Malmo Arena on Tuesday. Fans in quirky and glittery outfits waved flags from the participating countries inside the arena, with many dressed up as their favourite contestant or in their national colours.

Factbox-What protests are planned for this week's Eurovision in Sweden?

The world's biggest live music event, the Eurovision Song Contest, is taking place in Sweden this week with 37 participating countries. Roughly 100,000 visitors from 89 countries are expected in host city Malmo during the week for the 68th edition of the competition, along with large protests against Israel's participation due to the war in Gaza.

(With inputs from agencies.)