Tuesday, February 28, 2017

U2 is sued for allegedly stealing song for 'Achtung Baby'

(Reuters) - A British songwriter and guitarist has sued U2, claiming the band stole one of his works for a song on its blockbuster 1991 album "Achtung Baby."

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Xbox unveils $9.99 monthly subscription for videogames

(Reuters) - Microsoft Corp's Xbox division said on Tuesday it would launch a $9.99-per-month subscription service that will allow gamers to play over 100 Xbox One and "backward compatible" Xbox 360 videogames.

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SoundCloud launches budget plan to attract paying subscribers

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Music-streaming service SoundCloud launched a budget subscription package on Tuesday, hoping to convert more listeners into paying subscribers and undercutting rivals Apple and Spotify.

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Monday, February 27, 2017

Early Oscars ratings show fewer viewers than last year - Nielsen

(Reuters) - ABC's Sunday night broadcast of the 89th Academy Awards drew a 22.4 overnight rating, down 4 percent from last year's low-rated show, according to Nielsen data released by the Walt Disney Co unit.

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Milan's fashion week wraps up with Armani's expressive colors

MILAN (Reuters) - Once again Italian designer Giorgio Armani stunned with bright and eloquent colors in his autumn and winter collection, wrapping up six days of catwalk shows at Milan's Fashion week.

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Pennsylvania judge to hear arguments on moving Cosby criminal trial

(Reuters) - Lawyers for comedian Bill Cosby return to court on Monday to argue that his sexual assault case has drawn too much publicity to allow for a fair criminal trial in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.

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Trump policies play supporting role in 2017 Oscars

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Donald Trump's name was rarely mentioned during Sunday's Academy Awards, but the U.S. president's policies were a running subtext throughout the evening.

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Sunday, February 26, 2017

Amazon, Netflix grab a share of Oscar glory

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Silicon Valley crashed Hollywood's biggest awards show on Sunday as Amazon.com Inc and Netflix Inc collected the first Academy Awards for streaming services while independent studio A24 won the coveted best picture Oscar.

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Oscar host Jimmy Kimmel pokes fun at new world under Trump

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Comic Jimmy Kimmel opened Sunday's Oscars show seeking to break the tension among jittery nominees by poking deadpan fun at the political tumult roiling the United States and the globe during President Donald Trump's early weeks in office.

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Iran's 'The Salesman' wins best foreign language Oscar

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Iranian film "The Salesman," a domestic tale of revenge and honor within a modern marriage, won the Oscar on Sunday for best foreign language film.

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Stars shimmer on Oscar red carpet as diamonds and gold have their day

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Hollywood's A-list stars flaunted gold and silver gowns on the Oscar red carpet on Sunday, doused with a generous helping of diamonds, feathers, sequins and symbolic blue ribbons on the world's most cinematic runway.

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Actor Bill Paxton, known for roles in 'Big Love,' 'Titanic,' dies at 61

(Reuters) - American actor Bill Paxton, who rose to stardom with roles in Hollywood blockbusters such as "Aliens" and "Titanic," has died at age 61 after complications from surgery, his family said in a statement on Sunday.

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Box Office: Jordan Peele's 'Get Out' scores monster $30.5 million opening

LOS ANGELES (Variety.com) - "Get Out," a trenchant horror film about race relations, rode critical raves to a smashing box office debut.

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Escape with 'La La Land' or time to get real? Oscars face choice

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The red carpet has been rolled out and the champagne is on ice for Hollywood's big night on Sunday, but the biggest question may not be who will win but how much politics will rain on the "La La Land" Oscar parade.

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'Moonlight' sweeps Spirit Awards with six wins ahead of Oscars

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (Reuters) - "Moonlight" triumphed at the Film Independent Spirit Awards with six wins on Saturday, besting grief drama "Manchester by the Sea" ahead of Sunday's Oscars ceremony.

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Syrian Oscar nominee says can't get to ceremony because of passport problem

BEIRUT (Reuters) - A Syrian cameraman and rescue worker whose documentary about the "White Helmets" Civil Defence group has been nominated for an Oscar will not attend the awards ceremony because Damascus has canceled his passport, the group said on Sunday.

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Saturday, February 25, 2017

Meryl Streep accuses Karl Lagerfeld of spoiling her Oscars

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Meryl Streep on Saturday accused designer Karl Lagerfeld of spoiling her night at the Academy Awards ceremony by falsely accusing her of being paid to wear a gown on the Oscars red carpet.

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'Batman v Superman,' 'Hillary's America' win Razzie 'worst' films

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Even the Razzie Awards are getting political.

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Oscars so divided: Hollywood still struggles with race

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - On their way to this year's Oscars, Dev Patel searched for his Indian roots, Denzel Washington wrestled with racism as an angry African-American patriarch and Octavia Spencer became a top black female mathematician.

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Friday, February 24, 2017

Foreign Oscar contenders denounce 'fanaticism' in U.S.

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (Reuters) - The directors of all five Oscar-nominated foreign language films on Friday denounced what they called a "climate of fanaticism and nationalism" in the United States and elsewhere, and dedicated their Academy Award to the cause of unity and free expression.

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Vionnet's birds of paradise fly in Milan palazzo

MILAN (Reuters) - Fashion house Vionnet unveiled an airy and colorful collection inspired by birds of paradise in the brand's first fashion show in Milan following its decision to switch from the Paris catwalks.

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Iranian-American space experts to step in for Farhadi at Oscars

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Iranian director Asghar Farhadi has chosen an Iranian-American female engineer and a former NASA scientist to represent his film "The Salesman" at Sunday's Oscar ceremony, which he is boycotting in protest over U.S. President Donald Trump's crackdown on immigration.

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Judge allows a second accuser to testify at Cosby sex assault trial

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A judge ruled on Friday that a second woman who said comedian Bill Cosby sexually assaulted her would be allowed to testify at his upcoming trial in Pennsylvania on charges he sexually assaulted a former employee of Temple University.

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Emma Thompson won't take part in short 'Love Actually' sequel

LONDON (Reuters) - Actress Emma Thompson has said she is not taking part in a short "Love Actually" sequel for Britain's Comic Relief charity appeal because it is "too soon" to reprise her role in the romantic comedy after the death last year of co-star Alan Rickman.

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Thursday, February 23, 2017

Ahead of Oscars, golden "La La Land" statues come to London

LONDON (Reuters) - The Oscar buzz around romance musical "La La Land" and its 14 nominations at Hollywood's top film awards has come to London, with two golden statues of stars Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling erected in the heart of the city.

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Prada combines soft and strong elements for its winter collection

MILAN (Reuters) - Italian fashion house Prada brought to the catwalk soft and strong designs in an attempt to define the role of women in society, in a powerful show ending the second day of Milan's fashion week.

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Moschino shows anything can be worn, as long as there is attitude

MILAN (Reuters) - "Couture is an attitude, not a price point", read the plain white t-shirt over sturdy leather biker trousers worn by Moschino's designer Jeremy Scott at the end of the Italian brand's extravagant fashion show in Milan.

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Pregnant Beyonce pulls out of Coachella music festival

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Pregnant singer Beyonce on Thursday pulled out of performing at California's Coachella music festival in April, citing doctor's orders.

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Movie-inspired Fendi designs treat Milan's fashion elite

MILAN (Reuters) - Milan's fashion elite strolled down an elegant street in "Rome" on Thursday, sporting subtle and elegant creations that recalled the timeless movie scenes of yesteryear.

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Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Princess Diana's dresses go on display in London, 20 years after her death

LONDON (Reuters) - Gowns worn by Princess Diana for everything from meeting diplomats to dancing with movie stars feature in an exhibition celebrating the fashion of one of Britain's favorite royals, which opens in London this week.

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Little Mix win 'British single' prize at BRIT Awards

LONDON (Reuters) - British girl band Little Mix won the "British single" prize at the 2017 BRIT Awards for their song "Shout Out to My Ex" in London on Wednesday, beating competition from the likes of Coldplay and Tinie Tempah.

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Lights! Camera! Action! Getting ready for the Oscars' red carpet

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - It's not just women who are getting ready for the Oscars' red carpet on Sunday.

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Gucci's magic garden kick off Milan Fashion week

MILAN (Reuters) - The curtain went up on Milan's fashion week on Wednesday with Gucci's enchanted garden inspired looks and Fay's 1990s rock chick styles paraded for the womenswear autumn and winter 2017/2018 season.

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Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Burberry turns to artist Henry Moore for latest London Fashion Week show

LONDON (Reuters) - British artist Henry Moore provided the inspiration for luxury label Burberry's latest collection at London Fashion Week on Monday, with models strutting amid his sculptures in neutral designs influenced by his work.

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Angelina Jolie says 'we'll always be a family' despite divorce

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Angelina Jolie said on Tuesday she hoped her family would be stronger after her divorce from Brad Pitt, but that the actress still thinks of him as a wonderful father.

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Passion plus timing makes magic formula for 2017 Oscars

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - This year's Oscars is filled with projects fueled by passion and deeply-held personal visions that prevailed over skepticism, funding troubles and conventional wisdom.

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'La La Land' has Hollywood singing a different tune on musicals

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - From "Singin' in the Rain" to "The Wizard of Oz," musicals haven't traditionally seen much love from the Oscars. But "La La Land" has changed all that, tapping into a desire for escapism and sending Hollywood scrambling to dust off its dancing shoes.

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Monday, February 20, 2017

Ex-teen idol David Cassidy says he has dementia

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Former teen idol David Cassidy said on Monday he was suffering from dementia, a day after weekend performances in California in which he forgot his words and appeared to fall off stage raised concern about his health.

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Attenborough, 90, to present BBC "Blue Planet" sequel

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's most revered TV naturalist David Attenborough, 90, is returning to present a sequel to "The Blue Planet" documentary series, 16 years after the original illuminated the depths of the world's oceans.

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'Moonlight', 'Arrival' writers win top Writers Guild of America awards

(Reuters) - Writers for the films "Moonlight" and "Arrival" won top Writers Guild of America awards on Sunday, boosting the films' chances in the upcoming Academy Awards, Hollywood's biggest honors.

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Sunday, February 19, 2017

Box Office: 'Lego Batman' flies high over 'Great Wall,' 'Fist Fight'

LOS ANGELES (Variety.com) - "The Lego Batman Movie" is dominating the North American box office with an estimated $44 million this President's Day weekend -- nearly matching the combined haul of "Fifty Shades Darker" and "The Great Wall."

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Hungarian love story wins top prize at Berlin Film Festival

BERLIN (Reuters) - A Hungarian love story called "On Body and Soul" about two lonely hearts working in a slaughterhouse in Budapest won the Golden Bear for best film on Saturday at the 67th Berlin International Film Festival.

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Saturday, February 18, 2017

Amid record betting on Oscars, 'La La Land' is seen as a lock

NEW YORK (Reuters) - "La La Land" is set to sweep the Oscars, but the race to be crowned Hollywood's leading man is going down to the wire, say bookmakers who are seeing record bets on the Academy Awards this year.

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Friday, February 17, 2017

Exclusive: Paramount CEO Grey to depart as soon as next week - sources

(Reuters) - Brad Grey, the chairman and chief executive officer of Viacom Inc's Paramount Pictures film studio is expected to leave with an announcement coming as early as next week, according to two sources familiar with the situation.

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Syrian 'White Helmets' makers get visas for Oscar travel

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Two Syrian rescue workers said on Friday they plan to travel to next week's Oscar ceremony, where their documentary "White Helmets" is nominated for an award, after weeks of uncertainty caused by U.S. President Donald Trump's travel ban.

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After New York, London kicks off fashion week with eyes on creativity

LONDON (Reuters) - Chunky knits and frilly dresses took over the London catwalk on Friday as the British capital kicked off its leg of the autumn/winter womenswear fashion week calendar.

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Federal judge dismisses Massachusetts defamation lawsuit against Cosby

BOSTON (Reuters) - A federal judge in Massachusetts on Thursday dismissed a defamation lawsuit against Bill Cosby by an actress who claimed he raped her, ruling that the comedian acted within his rights when he proclaimed himself innocent of the crime.

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Thursday, February 16, 2017

Australian rock band Midnight Oil to play first world tour in 20 years

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australian rock band Midnight Oil said on Friday they will play their first world tour in 20 years, vowing to continue their political activism during the six-month, fifty-show world tour.

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At New York Fashion Week, it's all about breaking the rules

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York Fashion Week ended with a flourish on Thursday after a parade of innovative shows that gave an affectionate nod to the 1980's, with designers mixing power suits, chunky furs and metallic fabrics into lavish new looks for both day and night.

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Disney plans midnight 'Star Wars' event to unveil 'Last Jedi' toys

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Walt Disney Co and major retailers will release the galaxy's newest "Star Wars" toys at a Sept. 1 midnight event ahead of the holiday debut of the next film in the saga, "The Last Jedi," company executives told Reuters.

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Dr. Luke email shows criticism of Kesha's weight in legal case

(Reuters) - Music producer Dr. Luke said in 2012 that musicians were unwilling to give pop singer Kesha their songs to perform because of her weight, according to court documents filed this week amid the singer's case to get out of her recording contract.

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Sirius XM wins dismissal of Turtles copyright lawsuit in New York

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Sirius XM Holdings Inc on Thursday won the dismissal of a New York copyright lawsuit over the satellite radio company's playing of older songs by the 1960s band The Turtles and other artists, reducing the size of a related settlement between both sides in November.

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Kanye West unveils new Yeezy line during New York Fashion Week

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Three months after being hospitalized for exhaustion, rapper Kanye West made his first major public appearance on Wednesday, turning up for his Yeezy fashion show during New York Fashion Week.

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Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Canadian humorist, radio show host Stuart McLean dies at 68: CBC

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Stuart McLean, a Canadian humorist and broadcaster best known for his popular syndicated comic radio show The Vinyl Cafe, died on Wednesday at the age of 68, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp said.

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Spanish film about bar shooting shows how people react in extreme situations

BERLIN (Reuters) - A Spanish film that depicts a shooting in a Madrid bar explores how people react in extreme situations - a scenario that is a reality in Europe as militants have staged attacks in Paris and other places.

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Unemployment in Portuguese movie 'Colo' is one reason for populism, director says

BERLIN (Reuters) - The unemployment portrayed in a movie competing at the Berlin Film Festival is a factor behind growing support for populists such as U.S. President Donald Trump and French right-winger Marine Le Pen, the film's director said.

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Iran defeats U.S. Navy in defiant animated film

DUBAI (Reuters) - A full-length animated film depicting an armed confrontation between Iran's Revolutionary Guards and the U.S. Navy is soon to open in Iranian cinemas, amid rising tensions over President Donald Trump's hardening rhetoric against Tehran.

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Beuys film depicts German artist as laughing revolutionary

BERLIN (Reuters) - A documentary about German conceptual artist Joseph Beuys wowed the audience at its world premiere in Berlin, depicting him as a creative wizard and provocative prankster who enjoyed challenging traditional thinking about art, politics and money.

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Recovering from memory loss, Kanye West focuses on fashion comeback

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Two months after being hospitalized for exhaustion and still recovering from memory loss, Kanye West is expected to make his first major public appearance at New York Fashion Week, his producer revealed.

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Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Syrian films bring tears and smiles to Berlin Film Festival

BERLIN (Reuters) - One drops you, trapped and powerless, in the middle of a civil war, while the other uses humor to depict what's it like to start a new life in Europe after escaping the same conflict.

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YouTube, Disney ditch PewDiePie over anti-Semitic content

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - YouTube and Walt Disney Co have cut their ties with influential Swedish social media star PewDiePie after he posted a series of videos deemed anti-Semitic.

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2017 MTV Europe Music Awards to be held in 'musical epicenter' London

LONDON (Reuters) - The MTV Europe Music Awards will take place in London this year, more than 20 years since the ceremony was last held in the British capital, channel MTV said on Tuesday.

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Monday, February 13, 2017

Metal shades shimmer on BAFTAs red carpet

LONDON (Reuters) - Despite the chilly winter, guests at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) awards appeared to ditch traditional gowns for some fun and flirty looks, with metallics, sequins and embellished dresses dominating the red carpet.

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Family of late singer George Michael 'extremely upset' at leaked emergency call

LONDON (Reuters) - The family of George Michael is "extremely upset" that a recording of an emergency call about the singer on the day he died at his southern England home was leaked to the press, lawyers said.

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Sunday, February 12, 2017

Pregnant Beyonce keeps all eyes on her despite shock Grammy loss

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A surprise loss didn't stop Beyonce from being center of attention Sunday's Grammy awards, as the pregnant singer delivered the night's most anticipated performance and was praised on stage by the artist who triumphed over her.

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Late pop stars Prince, George Michael saluted at Grammys

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Prince and George Michael, two Grammy-winning pop veterans who died unexpectedly months apart last year, were honored with special musical tributes from younger stars on Sunday during the recording industry's top awards show.

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Pop divas leave little to imagination on Grammys red carpet

(Reuters) - The pop world's reigning divas dueled on the Grammys red carpet on Sunday, raising eyebrows with cleavage-baring looks, and politically charged fashion statements found a voice on the music industry's big night.

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Seven-time Grammy winner Al Jarreau dies at 76

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Jazz and R&B singer Al Jarreau, a seven-time Grammy winner whose hits included "We're in This Love Together" and "Moonlighting," died on Sunday in Los Angeles at age 76, just days after announcing he was retiring from touring because of poor health.

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Prince back on streaming platforms, two new albums coming

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Prince's early music catalog was made available across all streaming services on Sunday, almost a year after his death, and record label Warner Bros. said it planned to release two albums of new music from the pop funk musician in June.

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'La La Land' wins best film BAFTA award to continue hot streak

LONDON (Reuters) - Musical "La La Land" won big at Britain's main film awards on Sunday as it scooped the prize for best film, while Emma Stone and Damien Chazelle picked up awards for best actress and best director respectively.

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All eyes on Beyonce as pregnant powerhouse leads Grammys charge

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Pregnant pop superstar Beyonce heads into the Grammy awards on Sunday aiming to clinch her first album of the year win, while riding high on a wave of goodwill that greeted her surprise announcement that she was expecting twins.

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Box Office: 'Lego Batman Movie' tops 'Fifty Shades Darker' with $55.6 million

LOS ANGELES (Variety.com) - Costumed avengers, a billionaire with a kinky side, and a brutally efficient hit man proved to be just the tonic for an ailing domestic box office.

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Making 'Final Portrait' was as difficult as Giacometti's painting: Tucci

BERLIN (Reuters) - If you want a taste of the psychological and physical strain that comes with posing for one of the 20th century greatest painters, then go watch "Final Portrait".

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Saturday, February 11, 2017

Kinky 'Fifty Shades' stokes fantasy, not reality, says author

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - E.L. James, the British author and producer of the erotic "Fifty Shades of Grey" novels and film franchise, knows that her story about an attractive couple engaged in a kinky relationship is very much a fantasy.

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Grammy Awards shape up as clash of pop titans Beyonce and Adele

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The Grammy awards are shaping up to be the ultimate showdown between pop's two biggest female stars as Beyonce and Adele go head-to-head for song, record and album of the year on Sunday.

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Friday, February 10, 2017

Gere faults Trump for blurring meaning of 'refugee' and 'terrorist'

BERLIN (Reuters) - Actor and activist Richard Gere said on Friday that U.S. President Donald Trump has managed to merge the meaning of the words "refugee" and "terrorist" in the minds of many Americans.

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"Fifty Shades Darker" a darker film, says author and producer E.L. James

LONDON (Reuters) - "Fifty Shades Darker", the sequel to the 2015 hit "Fifty Shades of Grey", promises to be a darker experience for viewers, both the cast and producer of the film agreed at the film's premiere in Britain.

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George Clooney and wife Amal expecting twins: Matt Damon

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - George Clooney and his wife Amal are expecting twins, actor Matt Damon said on Thursday, adding he was so thrilled for the high-profile couple that he "almost started crying" when he found out last fall.

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China may increase quota for Hollywood films: state paper

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China is likely to raise the quota of imported films allowed into the country, the state-run Global Times newspaper said, a potential fillip for Hollywood producers who are increasingly looking to tap the country's fast-growing box office.

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Thursday, February 9, 2017

Jake Gyllenhaal to make Broadway debut at historic Hudson Theatre

NEW YORK (Reuters) - One of New York's oldest theaters will stage a play for the first time in almost 50 years when movie star Jake Gyllenhaal makes his Broadway debut later this month at the Hudson Theatre in a musical about 19th century French artist Georges Seurat.

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Michael Jackson's mom bullied and afraid of nephew: court papers

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Katherine Jackson, the 86-year-old mother of late pop star Michael Jackson, has won a restraining order against a nephew she accuses of bullying her, getting information on her bank accounts and other emotional abuse.

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The show must go on: New York Fashion Week braves massive storm

(Reuters) - New York Fashion week got off to a snowy start on Thursday with celebrities and the design world's elite braving a massive storm to watch models strut street-wear and gowns at some of the most important runway shows.

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Would you play for the Nazis? 'Django' movie poses moral dilemma

BERLIN (Reuters) - When the Nazis asked Django Reinhardt to play for troops heading to the Eastern Front, the musician faced a moral dilemma relevant to artists today, the director of a biopic on the jazz guitar pioneer said on Thursday.

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Aretha Franklin to retire from full time touring

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Soul music legend Aretha Franklin says she plans to retire from full-time touring after she releases a new album in September.

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Tom Hiddleston says Taylor Swift shirt a joke, romance 'was real'

(Reuters) - British actor Tom Hiddleston has opened up about his 2016 summer romance with Taylor Swift, insisting their relationship "was real" but explaining that his much-mocked "I (heart) T.S." tank top was just a joke.

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Wednesday, February 8, 2017

Madonna introduces newly adopted twin girls from Malawi

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Pop star Madonna debuted two new daughters on social media on Wednesday, saying she had completed her adoption of the twins from Malawi and was "overjoyed" to bring them into her family.

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Berlin festival showcases films on artists, refugees and shooting

BERLIN (Reuters) - A legendary jazz guitarist on the run from the Nazis, a family trapped in a Syrian apartment as bombs rain down, and a shooting at a Madrid bar - those are some of the roughly 400 stories that will hit screens at this year's Berlin Film Festival.

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Lady Gaga tells bodyshamers 'I'm proud of my body'

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Lady Gaga hit back at cyber bullies who made fun of her body during her spectacular halftime show at Sunday's Super Bowl.

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'Alice in Wonderland' collection fetches 88,000 dollars at auction

LONDON (Reuters) - One of the world's largest collections of "Alice in Wonderland" memorabilia, featuring over 3,000 items, was sold at an Oxford auction house on Wednesday for around 70,000 pounds ($88,000).

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Harry Potter spinoff helps Time Warner top estimates

(Reuters) - Time Warner Inc reported higher-than-expected fourth-quarter results, largely due to box office hits such as the "Harry Potter" spinoff "Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them."

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Trump accuser follows Cosby playbook by pursuing defamation suit

NEW YORK (Reuters) - When former reality television contestant Summer Zervos accused Donald Trump of sexual misconduct last fall, she pursued her claims solely in the court of public opinion, since the allegations dated too far back to allow a lawsuit.

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Tuesday, February 7, 2017

'White Helmets' filmmakers say Trump travel ban hurts Syrian subjects

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The filmmakers of Oscar-nominated "The White Helmets" about Syria's rescue workers said the documentary's subjects are directly affected by U.S. President Donald Trump's travel ban and their absence at the Oscars is a "lost opportunity."

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Diversity to rock the runway at New York Fashion Week

NEW YORK (Reuters) - From faux furs and statement outerwear to floral prints and pants suits for warmer weather, a diversity of styles for all seasons will hit the runway at New York Fashion Week.

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YouTube stars can live stream from mobile, make money from fans

(Reuters) - Alphabet Inc's YouTube said it was rolling out live streaming from mobile devices for users with more than 10,000 subscribers, adding a feature that will help them make money, as it takes on Facebook Live.

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Madonna granted permission to adopt twins from Malawi

LILONGWE (Reuters) - Malawi's High Court on Tuesday granted Madonna permission to adopt twins from the Southern African country, a judiciary spokesman said.

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Sting, Wayne Shorter win 2017 Polar Music Prize

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - British rock star Sting and American jazz musician Wayne Shorter have been awarded Sweden's Polar Music Prize, committee officials said on Tuesday.

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Kanye West appears to dump Trump with disappearing tweets

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Kanye West, one of Donald Trump's biggest celebrity supporters, appeared to have deleted his tweets about his meeting last year with the then U.S. president-elect in which the two discussed multicultural issues.

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Monday, February 6, 2017

Oscar awards organizers call for artistic freedom, no U.S. barriers

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The head of the organization behind the Oscar awards on Monday called for diversity and freedom of expression, saying the United States should not put barriers in the way of artists from around the world.

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Despite overtime finish, NFL Super Bowl draws lower TV ratings

(Reuters) - Fox Television's broadcast of Super Bowl LI on Sunday night drew 111.3 million viewers, according to Nielsen data released by the network on Monday, the smallest audience for the National Football League's title game in four years.

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Lady Gaga soars over Super Bowl stage with bow to inclusion

(This February 5 has been corrected in paragraph 2 to add the words "under God" in quote)

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Ricky Gervais' shtick gets tricky in Trump and Brexit era

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Playing a brash, bigoted bore in the Trump and Brexit era is double trouble for comedian-actor Ricky Gervais.

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Sunday, February 5, 2017

'La La Land' director Chazelle wins top DGA award, stoking Oscar hopes

(Reuters) - Hollywood directors named Damien Chazelle the best film director of 2016 for “La La Land" at a gala ceremony on Saturday, placing the musical in a strong position for the movie world's top honors, the Oscars, later this month.

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Box Office: 'Split' Tops 'Rings,' as 'Space Between Us' Bombs

LOS ANGELES (Variety.com) - It was a squeaker, but Universal's "Split" has edged past Paramount's "Rings" to narrowly claim victory at the domestic box office. The low-budget thriller retained its first place position for the third consecutive weekend, earning $14.6 million. So far, "Split," the story of a man with multiple personalities, has made $98.7 million stateside, while costing just $9 million, making it very profitable indeed. The film stars James McAvoy, was directed by "The Sixth Sens

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Expect "Fifty Shades Darker" to go even further, says Jamie Dornan

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - "Fifty Shades of Grey" star Jamie Dornan said fans of the erotic box office hit could look forward to more action when the sequel, "Fifty Shades Darker", reaches theaters next week.

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Friday, February 3, 2017

'Land of Mine' takes Denmark's dark secret to the Oscars

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A country's dark secret is the subject of an Oscar-nominated film, as a Danish filmmaker tells the true story of German prisoners of war ordered to disable and remove Nazi-planted land mines in Denmark after World War Two.

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U.S. Coast Guard to suspend search for Canadian 'Sharkwater' filmmaker

(Reuters) - The U.S. Coast Guard will suspend at sunset on Friday a three-day search for award-winning Canadian filmmaker Rob Stewart, an environmental activist who went missing after a deepwater dive off the southern Florida coast.

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Angelina Jolie slams Trump travel ban, calls for 'compassionate America'

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Actress and human rights advocate Angelina Jolie on Thursday said U.S. President Donald Trump's executive order barring travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries hurts vulnerable refugees and could fuel extremism.

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Wonderful Tonight: Taking Kim Jong Un's brother to a Clapton concert

SEOUL (Reuters) - Two years ago, Thae Yong Ho, North Korea's former deputy ambassador in London, received an unexpected phone call from the ruling Workers' Party Central Committee in Pyongyang telling him to get ready to receive a very important e-mail.

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Thursday, February 2, 2017

Beyonce's surprise twins announcement goes viral

(Reuters) - Pop superstar Beyonce said on Wednesday that she and her husband, rap star and entrepreneur Jay Z, were expecting twins, sending social media into a meltdown.

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Will be true to my beliefs during Super Bowl show, says Gaga

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Lady Gaga revealed few details on Thursday of what viewers can expect from her much anticipated Super Bowl halftime show, but the outspoken singer assured she would remain true to her beliefs and passions.

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Beyonce bares all in pregnancy photo shoot

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Pop superstar Beyonce on Thursday released a slew of photos of herself posing pregnant and nude, a day after announcing she was expecting twins with her husband, rapper Jay-Z.

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Wednesday, February 1, 2017

British singer Vera Lynn to release new album for 100th birthday

LONDON (Reuters) - British singer Vera Lynn will celebrate her 100th birthday by releasing an album of remastered classic songs next month, which could make the wartime singer the first centenarian to hit the UK charts.

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Lady Gaga takes Super Bowl spotlight, but how will she use it?

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - As Lady Gaga prepares to take America's biggest stage at the National Football League (NFL) Super Bowl halftime show on Sunday, much of country is speculating whether the outspoken singer will grab the opportunity to speak out on women's rights, immigration or U.S. President Donald Trump.

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Islands, chateau, art: Johnny Depp's lifestyle laid bare in lawsuit

(Reuters) - Johnny Depp took himself to the brink of financial ruin by spending tens of millions of dollars on homes, art, cars, a yacht and Hollywood memorabilia, according to a lawsuit filed by his former business managers.

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TV's DeGeneres uses 'Finding Dory' to take dig at Trump immigration ban

(Reuters) - U.S. talk show host Ellen DeGeneres on Tuesday took a subtle dig at U.S. President Donald Trump's immigration ban by explaining the plot of her hit animated movie "Finding Dory."

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French judge interviews Kardashian in New York over Paris robbery

PARIS (Reuters) - The French judge in charge of the investigation into Kim Kardashian's armed robbery last year in Paris was in New York on Wednesday to interview the U.S. TV reality star in the case, a source close to the matter said.

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