Entertainment – International

Actress Raquel Welch dies at 82

Los Angeles, United States | AFP | by Andrew MARSZAL Raquel Welch, the US actress who became an international sex symbol after appearing in a deerskin bikini in “One Million Years BC,” died Wednesday, her manager said. She was 82. Welch “passed away peacefully” after “a brief illness,” her manager said in an emailed statement to AFP, without providing further details. The Golden Globe winner starred in more than 30 films — including “Fantastic Voyage” […]

Rihanna performs hits at Super Bowl – with a very special guest

GLENDALE, United States (AFP) — Rihanna made her long-awaited return to the stage at the Super Bowl with a career-spanning medley of pop bangers, but it was her baby bump that dominated the conversation. The megastar appeared in the stadium midair on a floating stage, donning a clingy, all-red ensemble featuring a molded bustier — and a belt below what many viewers deduced was another mini RiRi in the making. Representatives for the singer confirmed […]

Legendary songwriter Burt Bacharach dead at 94

  Legendary American pop composer Burt Bacharach, whose prolific output provided a chart-topping playlist for the 1960s and 70s with hits like “I Say a Little Prayer,” has died in Los Angeles aged 94, US media said Thursday. Bacharach worked with stars such as Dionne Warwick, Aretha Franklin, Dusty Springfield and Tom Jones and also wrote hits such as “Walk On By” and “Do You Know the Way to San Jose.” Bacharach, who died on […]

Jack could have survived, says Cameron as ‘Titanic’ re-released 25 years on

by Andrew MARSZAL Agence France-Presse Los Angeles, United States (AFP) — James Cameron doesn’t have many regrets — after all, he has now directed three of the four highest-grossing films of all time. But if he could go back and remake “Titanic,” the film that started his record streak 25 years ago and is being re-released in theaters Friday, there is one thing he would change. “Based on what I know today, I would have […]

Disney lays off 7,000 as streaming subscribers decline

SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — Entertainment giant Disney said Wednesday it was laying off 7,000 employees, in CEO Bob Iger’s first major decision since he was asked back to lead the company late last year. The layoffs follow similar moves by the US tech giants that have laid off thousands of workers as the economy sours and companies dial back a hiring spurt that began during the height of the pandemic. “I do not […]

Marvel superheroes return to Chinese cinemas after nearly four years

by Vivian LIN Agence France-Presse SHANGHAI, China (AFP) — Marvel’s superheroes began their return to China’s massive movie market after an apparent ban of nearly four years on Tuesday, with fans streaming into cinemas to watch “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”. The Disney-owned studio’s hugely popular franchises have been absent from Chinese screens since 2019, with no explanation. Marvel blockbusters have raked in billions globally, and their return to one of the world’s biggest movie markets […]

‘Assassin’s Creed’ composer wins first ever video game music Grammy

Los Angeles, United States (AFP) — “Assassin’s Creed” composer Stephanie Economou won the first ever Grammy honoring video game scores at Sunday’s gala in Los Angeles. Industry players had lobbied for years for a prize celebrating the work behind video game soundtracks, an acknowledgment of the major impact gaming and its music have on pop culture. In her acceptance speech, Economou — who composed the music for “Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Dawn Of Ragnarok” — praised […]

Shah Rukh Khan: Indian heartthrob and King of Bollywood

by Udita JHUNJHUNWALA Agence France-Presse Mumbai, India (AFP) — Shah Rukh Khan is Bollywood’s most popular star and at 57 still its biggest hunk, whose silver-screen repertoire of dance, romance and shoot-em-up heroics made him the cinematic avatar of a changing India. “King Khan” — whose moniker reflects decades of box office dominance — is a rare unifying figure across India’s multiple geographic, linguistic and religious faultlines. His latest film “Pathaan” was an event akin […]

Casanova’s ‘La Pieta’ drama wins French horror accolade

STRASBOURG, France (AFP) – Spanish director Eduardo Casanova on Sunday saw his “La Pieta” drama about a toxic mother-son relationship take top prize at France’s Gerardmer international horror and science fiction film festival. The film, set in 2011, depicts the bond between the mother, Libertad, and her son Mateo as an analogy for the relationship between the people of North Korea and its government. The odd couple’s story is upended when Mateo is diagnosed with brain […]

Paris Hilton announces birth of first child

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) – Media personality and hotel heiress Paris Hilton announced Tuesday that she and husband Carter Reum had welcomed their first child. Hilton posted a photo on Instagram of what appeared to be her newborn baby grasping her thumb. “You are already loved beyond words,” Hilton wrote with a blue heart emoji. US entertainment media reported that the baby boy had been born via surrogate. The former reality TV star, 41, had […]

‘The 1619 Project’ comes to TV with Oprah-produced docuseries

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) – “The 1619 Project,” which began as a New York Times essay series about the impact of slavery on United States history and became a lightning rod for intense political divisions, will launch a new television docuseries produced by Oprah Winfrey this Thursday. The Hulu six-part series is fronted by journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones, who won a Pulitzer Prize for her work producing the original project — written mainly by Black scholars — […]

Microsoft quarterly results saved by cloud computing

SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) – Microsoft on Tuesday said sales slowed and profits slumped in the last quarter of 2022 as a darkening economic outlook pushed it to lay off 10,000 workers. The Washington state-based tech giant — owner of LinkedIn, Xbox and Windows — said overall sales rose just two percent in the October-to-December period, to $52.7 billion, the slowest rise in six years. Net profit landed at $16.4 billion for the quarter, down […]