Entertainment – International

K-pop star Moonbin of boy band Astro dies at 25

K-pop star Moonbin, a member of the boy band Astro, has died, his music label and South Korean police said Thursday, prompting an outpouring of grief from fans. The 25-year-old singer was found dead at his home in southern Seoul late Wednesday, a spokesperson for the National Police Agency told AFP, adding that there was no evidence of foul play. Moonbin’s label Fantagio Music also released a statement on Thursday confirming his death but without […]

K-pop star Moonbin of boy band Astro dies at 25

Seoul, South Korea (AFP) by Claire LEE K-pop star Moonbin, a member of the boy band Astro, has died, his music label and South Korean police said Thursday, prompting an outpouring of grief from fans. The 25-year-old singer was found dead at his home in southern Seoul late Wednesday, a spokesperson for the National Police Agency told AFP, adding that there was no evidence of foul play. Moonbin’s label Fantagio Music also released a statement […]

J-Hope of BTS to begin mandatory South Korean military service

by Claire LEE BTS star J-Hope was set to start his mandatory South Korean military service on Tuesday, local media reported, the second member to report for duty since the K-pop juggernaut went on hiatus last year. The septet has become a global cultural phenomenon, selling out stadiums and dominating charts while raking in billions for South Korea’s economy and building an international legion of fans known as ARMY. But all able-bodied South Korean men […]

Harry Potter TV series announced, Rowling to executive produce

New York, United States (AFP) — The first Harry Potter television series is set to be made, with author JK Rowling acting as an executive producer, Warner Bros. Discovery announced on Wednesday. Rowling has recently faced accusations of transphobia for putting an emphasis on biological sex over gender identity in comments about trans women. She denies the accusation. Warner Bros. Discovery said the series will be “a faithful adaptation” of Rowling’s mega-selling books about the […]

Leonardo DiCaprio testifies in corruption trial against Fugees member

by Charlotte PLANTIVE Leonardo DiCaprio was in Washington Monday — not to press lawmakers on his environmental causes or to film another blockbuster hit, but rather to testify in a political corruption trial featuring a 90s hip-hop star and a disgraced Malaysian financier. Pras Michel, a member of the US musical trio The Fugees, is facing charges for allegations of helping to secretly funnel money from Low Taek Jho — the Malaysian businessman at the […]

Super Mario: Nintendo’s decades of star power

by Yassine Khiri and Mathias Cena Agence France-Presse PARIS, France (AFP) — Hollywood is having its second bash at sprinkling some movie magic on the “Super Mario Bros” video game franchise, three decades after the last attempt. The pint-sized plumber from Japanese game maker Nintendo has enjoyed 40 years of extraordinary popularity that has transformed the character into a truly global icon. – The saviour – Nintendo owes a lot to its moustachioed hero, created […]

Scorsese, DiCaprio to premiere new film at Cannes

Paris, France | AFP | Martin Scorsese’s new film starring Leonardo DiCaprio, “Killers of the Flower Moon”, will get its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on May 20, organisers confirmed on Friday. It will be the first time the veteran filmmaker presents a new film at the festival since he won best director there in 1986 for “After Hours”. Scorsese won the top Palme d’Or prize in 1976 for “Taxi Driver” and also […]

‘Dungeons and Dragons’ aims to recapture 80s film magic

by Eric RANDOLPH Agence France Presse Paris, France (AFP) More jokes and less reliance on computer effects — the makers of “Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” wanted their blockbuster to be a throwback to the classic family films of the 1980s. In transferring the beloved role-playing game to the big screen, directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein said they wanted the mix of earnest fun and absurd comedy of their childhood favourites like […]

Gwyneth Paltrow takes the stand in skiing trial

  Los Angeles, United States | AFP | Saturday 3/25/2023 by Paula RAMON Actress Gwyneth Paltrow took the stand in her US trial over a skiing accident Friday, telling a Utah courtroom that the man suing her had crashed into her from behind and was at fault for the collision. The “Shakespeare in Love” actress is being sued for damages by retired optometrist Terry Sanderson over a skiing accident seven years ago, which his lawyers […]

Jurassic Park actor Sam Neill reveals blood cancer diagnosis

  Wellington, New Zealand | AFP | Saturday 3/18/2023 Actor Sam Neill has revealed he is being treated for stage-three blood cancer, writing in a memoir that he was “possibly dying” from the illness diagnosed a year ago. The New Zealander, who burst to fame after starring as Dr Alan Grant in the 1993 blockbuster “Jurassic Park”, said he began treatment last March for non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Neill, 75, makes the revelation in his book “Did […]

18.7 Million Viewers Watch 2023 Oscar Awards

  Oscars television ratings increased for the second year in a row, as 18.7 million viewers tuned in to watch hit sci-fi “Everything Everywhere All At Once” dominate a well-reviewed ceremony, the ABC network said Monday. With Jimmy Kimmel back as host, and a number of bona fide blockbusters among the nominated films including “Top Gun: Maverick” and “Avatar: The Way of Water,” organizers had hoped that the 95th Academy Awards would draw audiences back. […]

‘Almost ballet’: Keanu Reeves brings ‘John Wick’ to Paris

by Francois BECKER Agence France-Presse PARIS, France (AFP) — Keanu Reeves is back with the fourth chapter of his megahit gun-frenzy franchise “John Wick” next week. He sees its expertly coordinated action scenes as “almost ballet”. “It was always a dream of mine to act in Paris, and to be back was amazing,” the jovial 58-year-old film star told AFP on a recent trip to the French capital. The last time he worked here, more […]