Following is a summary of current entertainment news briefs.
Ben Stiller says ‘really tough’ to see Ukraine refugees’ plight
Actor Ben Stiller, a goodwill ambassador for the U.N. refugee agency, has said it was “distressing” to hear the experiences of people displaced by the Ukraine conflict, adding he hoped to shine a light on their plight with his visit to the country. He added that it was crucial for people not to turn away from and lose interest in the war, now that it had been going on for several months.
Does Beyonce’s new summer song channel the ‘Great Resignation’?
American pop star Beyonce Knowles-Carter has surprised fans with an early release of her single ‘Break My Soul’ from her upcoming album ‘Renaissance’, setting social media ablaze with song lyrics that some say tap into rising worker anger at conditions. “I’m gonna find new drive/damn, they work me so damn hard / Work by nine, then off past five /And they work my nerves, that’s why I cannot sleep at night,” sings the artist, adding “I just quit my job.”
Canada passes bill to compel local content on streaming platforms
Canada’s lower house of the parliament passed legislation on Tuesday that would bring online streaming platforms under the stewardship of the country’s broadcast regulator and compel firms like Netflix, YouTube, and Spotify to offer more local content. The bill, brought by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government, cleared the House of Commons by 208 votes to 117, with support from the opposition New Democrats and Bloc Quebecois.
Obamas find new podcast home at Audible after Spotify exit
The Obamas’ media company Higher Ground has signed a multi-year deal with Amazon Inc-owned Audible to make original audio content, after ending its three-year run with Spotify. The terms of the agreement announced on Tuesday were not disclosed. The deal gives Audible the right to have a first look at the new material before others in the industry get access to it.
Oscar-winning screenwriter Paul Haggis arrested in Italy on sexual assault charges
Oscar-winning screenwriter Paul Haggis is under house arrest in southern Italy on charges of sexual assault and aggravated personal injury, accusations that the Canadian director denies, his lawyers said on Monday. “Mr. Paul Haggis was detained on Sunday with an emergency measure issued by the Brindisi prosecutors and is now under house arrest in Ostuni. He will be questioned by Thursday by a judge who will have to decide whether or not to confirm the detention,” his Italian lawyer Michele Laforgia told Reuters.
‘Umbrella Academy’ siblings return to face the new doomsday threat
The squabbling siblings of “The Umbrella Academy” return for more superhero antics this week, contending with a fresh universal threat and some new family rivals. Season three of the hit Netflix show sees the introduction of the slicker Sparrow Academy as well as the transition of the character Vanya Hargreeves to Viktor Hargreeves, mirroring the personal life of the actor Elliot Page.
Kate Bush tops UK charts with 1985 hit thanks to ‘Stranger Things’
British singer and songwriter Kate Bush topped the UK singles chart with her 1985 hit “Running Up That Hill” on Friday, setting several records with the song that has enjoyed a resurgence thanks to the Netflix show “Stranger Things” . “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)” peaked at No. 3 upon its original release but has found a new fan base among a younger generation in the latest season of the 1980s-set show about supernatural horrors in the fictional Indiana town of Hawkins.
(With inputs from agencies.)
