Entertainment – International

Lebanon bans Spielberg film and Israeli adventurer biopic

by Khaled Soubeih Agence France-Presse BEIRUT, Lebanon (AFP) — Lebanese authorities have banned Steven Spielberg’s latest film, political thriller “The Post”, and Australian drama “Jungle” to comply with a boycott of Israel, an official told AFP Monday. “Screening of the film ‘The Post’ has been banned,” said the official from Lebanon’s General Security authority, speaking on condition of anonymity. Spielberg “is blacklisted by the Arab League’s boycott office, which Lebanon complies with”, the official explained. […]

The Cranberries singer Dolores O’Riordan dies aged 46

by James PHEBY Agence France-Presse LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Irish singer-songwriter Dolores O’Riordan, frontwoman of the multi-million selling rock band The Cranberries, died suddenly in London on Monday, aged 46, her publicist said. “Irish and international singer Dolores O’Riordan has died suddenly in London today, family members are devastated,” Lindsey Holmes said in a statement. “The lead singer…was in London for a short recording session,” she added. “No further details are available at this […]

Actress Kruger says Hollywood changing because ‘men are scared’

PARIS, France (AFP) — Hollywood actress Diane Kruger said Monday that the #MeToo movement had scared powerful men but she was afraid that change may be short-lived. The German-born star, who won the best actress in May at the Cannes film festival for “In the Fade” — which is hotly tipped for a best foreign movie Oscar nomination — told French television that she has never been paid as much as her male co-stars. Yet […]

Deneuve says she meant no offence to sex assault victims

PARIS, France (AFP) — French film star Catherine Deneuve said she stood by her signing an open letter in Le Monde this week bashing the #MeToo movement but apologised if she had offended victims of sexual assault, in a letter published on the website of daily Liberation on Sunday. “I warmly greet all the victims of these hideous acts who might have felt offended by that letter which appeared in Le Monde. It is to […]

‘Jumanji’ leads the box office pack over holiday weekend

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Sony’s family-oriented movie “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” staked out the top spot at the North American box office this holiday weekend, gripping first place for the second straight week. “Jumanji,” starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and funnymen Jack Black and Kevin Hart, was expected to net $33.4 million over the Martin Luther King Day weekend, bringing its domestic total to $289.5 million in its fourth week out, according […]

‘Coco’ guitars all the rage in Mexico

by Yemeli ORTEGA Agence France-Presse PARACHO DE VERDUZCO, Mexico (AFP) – Salvador Meza has been making guitars since he was a boy, but his leathery hands have never had to churn them out as fast as now — thanks to the hit movie “Coco.” Meza, 41, is one of many renowned guitar-makers in the Mexican town of Paracho, which has been producing artfully crafted guitars since the 18th century. But the sleepy colonial town has never […]

Naked Cowboy bravely sings of love for Trump in Mexico

MEXICO CITY, Mexico (AFP) — The Naked Cowboy, whose white underpants, bronzed chest and cowboy hat are fixtures in New York’s Times Square, took his act to Mexico City this week, bravely singing of his love for Donald Trump and his border wall. Robert John Burck is famous for busking on Broadway sporting just a guitar and tighty-whities emblazoned with the words “Naked Cowboy” in red, white and blue, even in the dead of winter. […]

Mary J. Blige gets star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Grammy-winning soul singer Mary J. Blige — who has earned critical acclaim and award nominations for her acting debut in last year’s “Mudbound” — celebrated her 47th birthday Thursday by getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. “I am so grateful, and I say that with confidence and not arrogance,” she told the crowd gathered for the star unveiling ceremony. “I know my work and I understand […]

Five women accuse James Franco of sexual misconduct: report

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Five women have publicly accused Hollywood star James Franco of sexually inappropriate behavior, The Los Angeles Times reported Thursday, just days after the actor triumphed at the Golden Globes. The paper published allegations by four former students at the film school Franco founded who accused him of exploitative behavior including during nude scenes. A fifth woman accused Franco of pressuring her into performing fellatio while the pair were in […]

Versace family slam TV series on designer’s murder

MILAN, Italy (AFP) — The Versace family on Wednesday slammed a new television series on the murder of fashion giant Gianni Versace, saying it was based on nothing more than “work of fiction.” The show, filmed largely at Versace’s Miami waterfront mansion where the stylist to the stars was gunned down in July 1997, is set to be released next week in the United States and Europe. “The Versace family has neither authorized nor had […]

McCartney, Pink Floyd join campaign to save UK music venues

LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason and folk singer Billy Bragg were among artists and politicians campaigning outside Britain’s parliament on Wednesday to save the country’s live music venues. Around 35 percent of Britain’s live music venues have shut over the last decade, buffeted by gentrification, high rents and the changing music industry. “You need that bottom rung of the ladder for any band or artist that wants to work live,” […]

Bollywood star evicted from Paris flat over unpaid rent

PARIS, France (AFP) — A French court has ordered that Bollywood actress Mallika Sherawat be evicted from an apartment in a posh part of Paris for failing to keep up with the rent. In a December 14 ruling seen by AFP on Tuesday, the court told Sherawat and her French husband Cyrille Auxenfans to pay 78,787 euros ($94,000) in rent owed and expenses, giving the green light for their furniture to be seized. The couple […]