Entertainment – International

WATCH: Five former U.S. presidents hold concert benefiting hurricane relief efforts

(Reuters) — Five former U.S. presidents, Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama held a concert at Texas A&M University benefiting hurricane relief efforts in College Station, Texas, on Saturday (October 21). In a rare show of unity, U.S. President Donald Trump praised all five of his living predecessors thanking them in a video for their work in helping to raise funds for aid victims of recent hurricanes. His […]

Tyler Perry’s ‘Boo 2!’ ‘ scares away competitors at the box office

Reuters — “Tyler Perry’s Boo 2! A Madea Halloween” scored the top spot at the North American weekend box office over the weekend (October 20-22). The ninth “Madea” movie, directed and starring Perry, beat expectations, bringing in $21 million — well above the $19 million many expected it to make in it’s debut weekend, according to boxofficemojo.com. Big budget disaster movie “Geostorm”, starring Gerrard Butler, claimed the second place spot with $13.3 million in ticket […]

K-Pop star apologizes over dog bite death

SEOUL, South Korea Choi Siwon, a member of popular K-pop boy band Super Junior, on Saturday apologized over the death of a renowned restaurateur who died after being attacked by his family’s pet dog. The 53-year-old woman, surnamed Kim, who ran a famous Korean restaurant, Hanilkwan, in Seoul, died in hospital of blood poisoning on October 3, days after she was bitten by a French bull dog raised by the Chois. The dog, untied, was […]

Two more Weinstein accusers go public with sex assault claims

by Frankie TAGGART Agence France-Presse LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — A former actress accused Harvey Weinstein Friday of unzipping his pants and forcing himself on her, as a separate alleged victim publicly repeated rape allegations she had made in a newspaper interview. Heather Kerr, who appeared on 1980s US sitcom “The Facts of Life,” claims Weinstein attacked her during a private meeting when she was an aspiring actress in her 20s. “He asked me […]

‘Thor: Ragnarok’ could cap record year for Marvel

by Frankie Taggart Agence France-Presse LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — It may not get the same affection lavished on “Iron Man” or “Captain America,” but the “Thor” franchise looks set to complete a record year for Marvel on its opening weekend. Bolstered by glowing early reviews, “Thor: Ragnarok” — the third instalment of the God of Thunder’s intergalactic exploits — is projected to take $90 to $100 million from Friday through Sunday. If it […]

French actress Danielle Darrieux dies at age 100

CANNES, France (Reuters) — French actress Danielle Darrieux has died aged 100, French media reported on Thursday (October 19), ending a film career which spanned eight decades. Starring in her first film Le Bal at the age of only 14, she went on to make over a hundred big screen appearances including as an elderly woman into her 90s. Reuters archive footage shows her appearing at the Cannes Film Festival in the late 50s and early […]

Harry Potter exhibition blends wizardry with history

LONDON, England (Reuters) — A new exhibition celebrating the 20th anniversary of the first Harry Potter book’s publication is offering ‘muggles’ with an interest in magic the chance to view rare memorabilia, combined with historic artifacts referenced in the popular series. “Harry Potter: A History of Magic,” held in the British Library in London, features Potter memorabilia including author J.K. Rowling’s first annotated sketch of Hogwarts school, as well as her handwritten list of its […]

Ed Sheeran ‘bruised and broken’ after accident, future tour ‘up to manager and agent’

LONDON, England (Reuters) — Singer Ed Sheeran said he was “a bit bruised and broken” on Wednesday (October 18), after a bike accident which left him with a broken, wrist, elbow and rib and which meant the cancellation of shows on the Asia leg of his tour. Speaking on the red carpet at the Q Awards in London, the singer did not give details about how the accident happened, but said the cancellation of any future […]

Weinstein resigns from board; celebrity accounts of assault snowball

by Veronique Dupont  with Jennie Matthew in New York Agence France-Presse LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Harvey Weinstein, the disgraced Hollywood mogul accused of decades of sexual abuse and harassment, resigned from the board of his production company on Tuesday, as Reese Witherspoon became the latest star to open up about her own experience of sexual asault. Weinstein was sacked as co-chairman of The Weinstein Company on October 8, but had continued to hold […]

Elton John to end Vegas residency

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Elton John, one of the major musical draws to Las Vegas, will end his residency at Caesar’s Palace next year, the casino announced Monday. The British pop legend will on May 19 close “The Million Dollar Piano,” his show since 2011 at the casino’s Colosseum theater in which he performs his hits to an elaborate visual display that includes dozens of video screens. Announcing the close of the residency, […]

Sexual abuse stories from around the world pour out on social media

by Cyril Julien Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Celebrities and everyday people continued flooding social media with personal accounts of sexual assault and harassment Monday, responding to calls to break the culture of silence around such abuse. The massive global response was triggered by the allegations against Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein, who is accused of rape and abuse dating back decades. People shared stories and offered support under multiple hashtags, including #MeToo in […]

Ai Weiwei on art, exile and refugee documentary film ‘Human Flow’

by Frankie Taggart Agence France-Presse LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — In the most tender moments of “Human Flow,” Ai Weiwei’s epic documentary on the worldwide migrant crisis, he is seen hugging, cooking with and cutting the hair of refugees. An ordinary filmmaker might be accused of getting too close to his subject but, as far as the Chinese dissident and internationally renowned artist is concerned, he is the subject. “When I look at people […]