Entertainment

Orchestra-conducting robot wows audience in S. Korean capital

A South Korean-made robot made its debut as an orchestra conductor before a sell-out crowd in Seoul on Friday, wowing the audience with a flawless performance in place of a human maestro. . While there have been musical performances led by robotic conductors in the past, including a 2017 concert led by the robot YuMi in Italy, this was the first time South Koreans were able to witness a robotic conductor on stage. 

UK court told Kevin Spacey was a 'sexual bully'

Oscar-winning Hollywood actor Kevin Spacey was on Friday described as a "sexual bully", as prosecutors opened their case against him in London for a string of sexual offence charges.. He was "a man who it would seem delights in making others feel powerless and uncomfortable, a sexual bully", the lawyer alleged in her opening speech.

US rapper Travis Scott won't face criminal charges over concert crush

US rapper Travis Scott will not face criminal charges over the death of 10 people killed in a crush during a Texas concert in 2021, a Houston grand jury decided Thursday.. "It is tragic that 10 innocent people were killed while trying to enjoy an evening of music and entertainment," Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said.

'Get used to us': South Korean drag queens fight for LGBTQ rights

Drag queen Hurricane Kimchi has torn through Seoul's nightlife scene like their meteorological namesake for a decade, part of a burgeoning LGBTQ community fighting for their rights in socially conservative South Korea.. Hurricane Kimchi, also known as activist and artist Heezy Yang, said South Korea needs to get used to the idea that LGBTQ people are part of society.

Madonna home from hospital following illness: source

Madonna has gone home after a several-day stay in the hospital and was "feeling better," a source close to the matter told AFP Thursday.. In 2020 Madonna underwent hip replacement surgery following an injury sustained on her "Madame X" tour. mdo/md

Iraq's prized modern art plagued by forgery, trafficking

Many masterpieces of Iraqi painting were looted or destroyed during the years of war, but now the country's artistic heritage faces another threat: rampant counterfeiting and illicit trafficking.. Many of them were among the thousands of pieces looted from the country's museums and homes during the security vacuum after dictator Saddam Hussein fell.

Hollywood braced for 'double strike' as actors' deadline looms

Hollywood's summer of discontent could dramatically escalate this weekend, with actors ready to join writers in a massive "double strike" that would bring nearly all US film and television productions to a halt.. While the writers' strike has already dramatically reduced the number of movies and shows in production, an actors' walkout would shutter almost everything.

Taylor Swift, The Weeknd invited to join Oscars panel

Music megastars Taylor Swift and The Weeknd are among showbiz people invited to join the organization that votes on who gets Oscars, the body said Wednesday.. Seen as the apex body of the Hollywood film industry, the Academy issues a single round of invitations annually.

Madonna hospitalized for several days, tour postponed

Madonna is recovering after falling ill with a "serious bacterial infection" that landed her in an intensive care unit for several days, her manager Guy Oseary said in a statement Wednesday.. In his statement on social media, her manager vowed to provide more information when available, including a new start date for the tour and for rescheduled shows.

Diageo ditches Diddy over brand neglect and racism claim

Drinks giant Diageo on Wednesday said it had ended its relationship with Sean "Diddy" Combs after the US rapper accused it of neglecting their business agreement and racism.. On Wednesday, a Diageo spokesperson said: "Mr Combs' bad-faith actions have clearly breached his contracts and left us no choice but to move to dismiss his baseless complaint and end our business relationship.