Iconic soul and R&B singer Betty Wright has died after a battle with cancer. She was 66.
According to Entertainment Weekly, the Grammy winner passed away on Sunday in her hometown Miami, Florida, Wright's niece confirmed.
The news comes a week after singer-songwriter Chaka Khan tweeted praying for her "beloved sister", without mentioning the cause of ailment.
"Calling all my #PrayWarriors | My beloved sister, Betty Wright, is now in need of all your prays. 'Que Sera, Sera | Whatever Will Be, Will Be' In Jesus Name We Pray for Sister Betty All My Love Chaka," she wrote.
Wright, whose real name was Bessie Regina Norris, was born in 1953.
She started singing as part of her siblings' musical group called the 'Echoes of Joy', but she rose to fame in the 1970s.
The singer was a member of the gospel ensemble until they parted ways when she was 11, leading her to embrace R&B music.
Wright signed with the label Deep City Records in 1966, a year later becoming a local hit with songs ...

Grammy winning-singer Betty Wright dies at 66

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Actor America Ferrera has welcomed her second child, a baby girl, with director-husband Ryan Piers Williams.
The couple, who have named their little one Lucia, took to Instagram to share the news on Mother's Day (May 10).
"LUCIA MARISOL WILLIAMS arrived on May 4th to give me my Mother's Day hugs and kisses herself.
"Mama, Dada & Big Brother are over the moon to welcome her bright light to our family," Ferrera, 36, wrote alongside a picture of the newborn holding onto the actor's hand.
Williams, 38, too shared the news, saying their daughter arrived just in time for Mother's Day.
"Everyone is healthy and happy!" he wrote.
In her post, the "Superstore" star also talked about her 'Yes We Can Mobile Schools' initiative, which helps to provide education to pupils at the US-Mexico border.
"Quarantine may have canceled her Baby Shower but it didn't stop us from collecting and delivering essential supplies to #YesWeCanMobileSchools - spaces for moms and children at the border to learn, ...

America Ferrera gives birth to second child

Actor-comic Kevin Hart and wife, model Eniko Parrish have announced that they are expecting a baby girl.
The couple, who announced the pregnancy in March, did the gender reveal on Mother's Day (May 10) on Instagram.
"Happy Mother's Day to this beautiful woman & wife of mine.We love you @enikohart... And we are thrilled about the arrival of our baby girl.Family of 6 WOW!" Hart, 40, wrote with a family photo with his wife showing off her baby bump.
Parrish, 35, also shared the same picture and captioned it: "OH BABY, it's a little lady. This Mother's Day God has blessed us with another baby girl, this pregnancy felt the exact same I could've sworn we were having another boy."
"I literally screamed, laughed, and cried when we found out this time around because she & Kenzo are what I've always prayed for," she added.
Hart and Parrish, who tied the knot in 2016, are already parents to two-year-old son, Kenzo. In 2017, Hart publicly admitted to having cheated on his wife while she ...

Kevin Hart announces gender of new baby

Model-cum-actress Poonam Pandey
was on Sunday booked by Mumbai Police for violating the  coronvirus-induced lockdown norms, an official said.
An FIR was registered against Panedy and a person  accompanying her by the Marine Drive Police.
She was found roaming in her high-end car at Marine  Drive without any reason, he said.
"A case has been registered against Pandey and Sam  Ahmad Bombay (46) under sections 269 (Negligent act likely to  spread infection of a disease dangerous to life) and 188  (Disobedience of order duly promulgated by public servant) of  the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and under provisions of the  National Disaster Act," senior police inspector Mrityunjay  Hiremath told PTI.

Model Poonam Pandey booked for violating lockdown norms

The office building of music label T-Series has been sealed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) after one caretaker tested positive for COVID-19.
According to T-Series spokesperson, there were caretakers who would work and stay at the office premises in Andheri, which is now sealed to contain the spread of Coronavirus.
"Some of them are migrants who couldn't go back. There are rooms, kitchen and all facilities for them at the office building. But one of them got tested positive for COVID-19.
"There are two-three people who are also getting tested, but their reports are pending. For safety reasons, the BMC has sealed the office. It was anyway shut for employees since March 15," spokesperson told PTI.
On Sunday, death toll due to COVID-19 rose to 2,109 in India, with cases climbing to 62,939.

T-Series office sealed after caretaker tests postive for COVID-19

Actor Mark Ruffalo says Iron Man star Robert Downey Jr. convinced him to take on the role of the Hulk aka Bruce Banner and join the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) in The Avengers.
The actor, who has been an integral part of the MCU since 2012, made the revelation during an online appearance on Jimmy Fallon's chat show.
I was scared, Ruffalo said of stepping into the role, which had previously been played by Edward Norton in 2008's The Incredible Hulk, Eric Bana in 2003's Hulk and Lou Ferrigno in the 1970s TV series.
I didn't know what I could add to what I already thought had been done so well before me. And I had only been doing indie movies up to that point so I was like I don't know if I am the right person for this role, he added.
Ruffalo said he was approached by The Avengers director Joss Whedon , who told him he'd be perfect for the part, and then Downey Jr called him to do some cajoling.
Joss Whedon's like, yeah, you are the right person. And then I got a call from Downey, it 

Mark Ruffalo says Robert Downey Jr convinced him to play Hulk

The original artwork of popular English rock band Led Zeppelin's eponymous debut album is up for auction.
The biding, being hosted by the Christie's auction house, starts on June 2 and closes on June 18, reported Rolling Stone.
The cover, which was designed by George Hardie and based on photographer Sam Shere's famous 1937 picture of the Hindenburg disaster, is estimated to bring in between USD 20,000 and USD 30,000.
The historical significance of this album cover cannot be understated. It marked a major turning point in the history of pop music, heralded by the debut of Led Zeppelin. It was louder, bolder than what had come before and would come to define the shape of hard rock for generations.
This simple rendering of the Hindenburg exploding over Lakehurst stands as a monument to that important historical moment. And the image has endured in a way that most other album covers have not  it very much has taken on a life of its own, said Christie's senior specialist of Books and ...

Original Led Zeppelin debut album artwork to be auctioned

British actor Andrew Scott says his Hot Priest in Fleabag was a result of his quest to break away from the image of a bad guy, which he attained after working in James Bond movie Spectre and playing Jim Moriarty in Sherlock series.
Scott's Hot Priest became the worldwide heartthrob soon after the premiere of Fleabag season two and the actor says starring in the series, fronted by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, gave him an opportunity to explore romance in an intelligent way.
One of the reasons Fleabag' came about was that I was searching for something that wasn't villainous. After Sherlock, there were a lot of sub-Moriarty roles that were offered to me. I played a villain in one of the Bond films  I was like, Yeah, I want to be in the Bond film!'  and that was a really good experience.
But I think after a while you have to go, No, I don't want to do that anymore.' I think romantic comedy' is very underrated; I was always looking for something that explored romantic love in a really intelligent 

Andrew Scott says he did Fleabag' as he was searching for something that wasn't villanious'

Filmmaker Karan Johar, actors Tiger Shroff and Ananya Panday on Sunday celebrated the first anniversary of their film "Student of the Year 2" and thanked fans for their love.
Backed by Johar, the film was directed by Punit Malhotra and marked the debut of Ananya and Tara Sutaria.
The producer took to Twitter and wrote, "Been a year since these wonderful & gorgeous students graduated with style, sass & love!"
Shroff posted an Instagram Story, thanking Johar and Malhotra for the "amazing journey".
"One year already!? Thank you @karanjohar and @punitdmalhotra for making me a small part of your amazing journey! Until next time," he wrote.
In a long Instagram post, Ananya wrote how "Student of the Year 2" marks many "firsts" for her and uploaded several pictures from the making of the film - from script reading sessions, song shoots to the day of the trailer launch.
"This also marks my first year in the industry. Here are a few of my firsts: my first screen test, my first reading, ...

Karan, Tiger, Ananya celebrate one year of 'Student of the Year 2'

Actor Samara Weaving has revealed that she was unaware about the popularity of the "Bill & Ted" film franchise till she received a call for audition in the third part, "Face The Music".
The Australian actor is set to play Thea Preston, daughter of Alex Winter's Bill in the film directed by Dean Parisot.
Weaving, who is engaged to creative producer Jimmy Warden, told Collider, "My fiance was sitting next to me and I said, 'Oh, I've got an audition for something called 'Bill & Ted',' and I've never seen him jump as high as he did.
"And then, he started doing the impersonation of Bill and Ted and I was like, 'What is happening? Are you having an aneurysm? Do we need to call somebody?'"
The 28-year-old said they watched the first two films in the comedy sci-fi film series "Excellent Adventure" and "Bogus Journey".
"... I was laughing hysterically the whole time. I didn't realise what an impact it had on pop culture at that time. I've heard people say, 'Whoa, dude!' and I didn't ...

Samara Weaving initially didn't know about 'Bill & Ted' films

Andy Serkis has teased that Matt Reeves' The Batman movie will have a dark tone and will explore the bond between Bruce Wayne and Alfred Pennyworth.
Serkis will be essaying the role Alfred in the much-awaited superhero movie, alongside Robert Pattinson's Batman aka Bruce Wayne.
During an interview with LADBible, the actor-filmmaker was asked if the movie would be even darker and broodier than the previous versions of the story, he commented: I would say that's not far from the truth.
Serkis said Reeves has penned an amazing script and he is excited about the final product.
It's very much about the emotional connection between Alfred and Bruce. That's really at the center of it. And it is a really exquisite script that Matt has written," he added.
The 56-year-old actor said he had been halfway through shooting his part when production was temporarily shut down in March due to the coronavirus pandemic.
I was literally half way through shooting my part in it when we got shut down. So it .

The Batman' will explore emotional connection between Alfred and Bruce: Andy Serkis

It has taken Seema Pahwa close to three decades to climb the success ladder as an actor and she believes she might have to start all over again after the nationwide lockdown is lifted.
The actor made her debut in 1984 with the landmark television series Hum Log and appeared in few films and TV shows.
Her performance in recent films like "Dum Laga Ke Haisha", Bareilly Ki Barfi and Shubh Mangal Saavdhan won her acceptance from the young audiences.
Audience had started welcoming content-driven cinema but now one might think twice before paying money and risking their lives to go to theatres. So the struggle has come back in life about how to bring the audience to theatres, Seema told PTI in an interview.
Citing the examples of actors Ayushmann Khurrana, Rajkummar Rao and Vicky Kaushal, the 58-year-old actor said while they have redefined the Indian film hero and enjoy a huge fan following, it would be tough for even them to pull the audience to the cinema halls.
They all had just come in 

Seema Pahwa worried about acceptance from audience post lockdown

From Nargis' revolutionary 'Mother India', the 'Mother of Bollywood' in Nirupa Roy, to Kajol's 'helicopter' mom and Priyanka Chopra's mama tiger act in "The Sky is Pink", Bollywood is coming of age when it comes to portraying mothers on screen.
This Mother's Day, writers Mrunmayee Lagoo Waikul, Juhi Chaturvedi, actor Seema Pahwa, writer-director Nupur Asthana and filmmaker Pradeep Sarkar weigh in on how Hindi cinema has been receptive to the off-screen evolution of mothers.
Even after 45 years, Salim-Javed's iconic "Mere paas maa hai" dialogue in "Deewar" evokes Roy's image as a hapless impoverished mother torn between her warring sons, played by Amitabh Bachchan and Shashi Kapoor.
Waikul, co-writer of "Thappad", believes mothers have often been used to bring out the emotional appeal in a story.
"The portrayal of a mother depends on what one is trying to communicate in the film. As writers we have to portray what is going on in the society and then try to make it inspirational, ...

Mother's Day: Bollywood taking baby steps in realistic portrayal of mothers

Singer Dua Lipa says for the longest time she used to feel that happy lyrics won't make for a good song.
The 24-year-old singer said while working on her new album, Future Nostalgia', she discovered that it's important to be honest to create a meaningful song.
This album is a lot happier than the first. For so long, I felt like I could only write music that was sad, or had a sadder meaning behind it.I thought writing a happy pop song wouldn't be very cool.
"I had to get out of that mindset and make something that was honest but made me happy. And I think getting out of my comfort zone and talking about very personal things did make me happy, Lipa told GQ magazine.
The singer-songwriter said while she finds it scary to share her personal experiences, she has started treating her openness as her strength.
''I write very much from personal experiences and sometimes it's scary putting your personal experiences out there but I've learnt that I shouldn't be afraid to feel and share my ...

Thought writing a happy pop song wouldn't be very cool: Dua Lipa

Actor-filmmaker Satish Kaushik is happy his directorial "Kaagaz" was complete much before the lockdown was announced and said the Pankaj Tripathi-starrer will be a winner whenever it is released.
"Kaagaz" is based on the life of Bharat Lal aka Lal Bihari from Azamgarh, who fought a legal battle for 18 years to prove that he is alive. The film is presented by Bollywood superstar Salman Khan.
Kaushik said he is thankful to Salman for "believing" in the film and coming on board as a presenter, which marks the filmmaker's comeback to direction after six years.
"Salman heard the story while I was shooting with him in Malta for 'Bharat' and liked it immensely. 'Kaagaz' will again be a film to remember from our combination, the way 'Tere Naam' is," the actor told PTI in an interview.
Kaushik, 64, said the team was ready to release in second week of May, but everything came to a standstill due to the coronavirus pandemic.
"Now in the era of 'content is king', I have a great content on my ...

Confident 'Kaagaz' will create impact when released: Satish Kaushik

The who's who of music world including Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Elton John remembered architect of rock n' roll Little Richard for his immense contribution to the field of arts.
Little Richard died Saturday at age 87 on Saturday after battling cancer.
Soon after the news of the musician's death spread, his friends, admirers and celebrity fans shared tributes on social media.
I just heard the news about Little Richard and I'm so grieved. He was my shining star and guiding light back when I was only a little boy. His was the original spirit that moved me to do everything I would do, Dylan posted on Twitter.
The veteran musician remembered Little Richard as a generous, kind and humble man.
I played some shows with him in Europe in the early nineties and got to hang out in his dressing room a lot. He was always generous, kind and humble. And still dynamite as a performer and a musician and you could still learn plenty from him, he said.
Jagger said the music icon was the 

Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger, Elton John pay tributes to rock n' roll giant Little Richard

With many celebrities and even former president Barack Obama taking part in virtual graduation ceremonies in times of social distancing, actor Alec Baldwin's President Donald Trump turned keynote speaker for this year's class of seniors in the remotely filmed season finale of "Saturday Night Live".
Kate McKinnon, who portrayed the principal of a fictitious school, mentioned that he was the class' eighth choice, behind such favourites as Obama, murder hornets and the "Elon Musk-Grimes baby".
"Hello, everyone, I'm Principal O'Grady. Welcome to the St Mary Magdalene By The Expressway class of 2020 virtual graduation," she said in a video shared on "SNL" Twitter page.
"I know this isn't how you expected your high school career to come to an end, but we're all making sacrifices. I have had to share my child's Adderall with him," McKinnon said to a zoom conference of the entire class playing students.
Baldwin's Trump appeared wearing a red "Make America Great Again" cap in a call from ...

Alec Baldwin returns as Trump to congratulate 'class of COVID-19' in 'SNL' finale

Nearly a month after recovering from the coronavirus, actor Zoa Morani says she has donated her blood plasma to do her bit in helping the patients currently suffering from the novel virus.
The actor, who was quarantined and kept under medication in April, also urged those who have recovered from COVID-19 to donate their plasma.
"Donated my blood today for the Plasma therapy trials at Nair hospital. It was fascinating! Always a silver lining I suppose. The team there was so enthusiastic and careful. There was a general physician on standby just incase of emergency and the equipment brand new and safe (sic)," Zoa wrote on Instagram on Saturday.
She thanked the doctors for taking care of her and hoped patients benefit from the donation.
"All #Covid19 recovered people can be a part of this trial, to help others covid patients recover! I hope this works #IndiaFightsCorona. They even gave me a certificate and Rs 500. Wont lie, I felt super cool today (sic)," she added.
Zoa, along with her ..

Zoa Morani donates blood plasma to help COVID-19 patients

Azaan is an integral part of the faith, not the gadget, says veteran writer-lyricist Javed Akhtar, asking that the Islamic call to prayer on loudspeakers should be stopped as it causes "discomfort" to others.
In a tweet on Saturday, Akhtar wondered why the practice was 'halaal' (allowed) when it was, for nearly half a century in the country, considered 'haraam' or forbidden.
"In India for almost 50 years Azaan on the loud speak was Haraam. Then it became Halaal and so halaal that there is no end to it, but there should be an end to it. Azaan is fine but loud speaker does cause of discomfort for others. I hope that atleast this time they will do it themselves (sic)," Akhtar tweeted.
When a user asked his opinion on loudspeakers being used in temples, the 75-year-old writer said everyday use of speakers is a cause of concern.
"Whether it's a temple or a mosque, if you're using loudspeakers during a festival, it's fine. But it shouldn't be used everyday in either temples or mosques.
"For 

Javed Akhtar calls to end azaan on loudspeakers, says it causes discomfort to others

Hollywood star Mark Wahlberg and Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House have joined hands to provide food to the city's healthcare workers and first responders.
The Boston-based burger chain Wahlburgers - run by Wahlberg brothers, Mark, Donnie and Paul - has been shipping its patties to the steak house in Midtown to be cooked up, and the city's legendary firefighter themed sports bar Bravest have been helping deliver the meals.
"They wanted to honour the hospital workers and first responders," Gerard Fitzgerald, president of the Uniformed Firefighters Association, told Page Six.
The meal deliveries started in Manhattan last week and end in Staten Island on Monday.
The 'Jason Bourne' star said it was nice to help champion for someone else and give them the credit they deserve.
"Not being able (to have our restaurants) fully operational these past several weeks has been heartbreaking for our entire organization. But that hasn't stopped our commitment to supporting the communities we ...

COVID-19: Mark Wahlberg's burger chain donating food to frontliners

Actor Sheridan Smith has welcomed her first child with fiance, insurance broker Jamie Horn.
"The Royle Family" star shared a picture of their baby boy clutching onto her finger on Instagram on Saturday.
"Our little man has arrived! We are both completely overwhelmed with love," Smith, 38, captioned the picture.
No other details about the child have been revealed.
Smith, also known for starring in sitcoms "Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps" and drama series "Cilla" about the life of English singer Cilla Black, announced her pregnancy last October.

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