Entertainment News

LONDON (Reuters) - British folk singer Yusuf Islam, formerly Cat Stevens, on Friday accepted libel damages and an apology from a news agency which reported he refused to talk to women at an awards ceremony who were not wearing a veil.

By Sugita Katyal
JAKARTA (Reuters Life!) - For some Indonesians, former president Suharto was a brutal dictator who ruled with an iron fist for over three decades. For others, he was a benevolent leader during whose time life was safer, cheaper and happier.

By Claire Sibonney
TORONTO (Reuters Life!) - The A-list of Bollywood is on a mission -- to take the glitz and glamour of Indian cinema to the rest of the world.

SYDNEY (Reuters Life!) - Whether it's New York's Staten Island Ferry or London's National Gallery, free activities are a welcome bonus for travellers of all ages and incomes.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Actor Dennis Farina was sentenced to two years probation on Thursday after reaching a plea agreement with prosecutors for carrying a loaded handgun into Los Angeles International Airport in May.

By Steve Gorman
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Tony Soprano is no longer around to hug but Emmy voters this year managed to embrace plenty of anti-heroes and twisted, flawed characters -- from a serial-killing sleuth to a methamphetamine-making teacher.

By Chris Michaud
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A controversial auction of soul singer James Brown's personal belongings fell short of expectations on Thursday, with more than 300 lots on offer taking in just over $850,000 at Christie's.

By Paul Thomasch
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - HBO got the most Emmy recognition of any U.S. network on Thursday as "John Adams" and "Recount" helped the cable channel grab 85 award nominations and burnish its reputation for quality programs.

By Marie-Louise Gumuchian
MILAN (Reuters) - Dressed in his traditional brown robe, sandals and twirling the rope around his waist, 62-year old Friar Cesare Bonizzi is no ordinary heavy metal rocker.

WASHINGTON (Reuters Life!) - First there was road rage, then there was office rage. Now, there's coffee rage.

By Iain Blair
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - When the new Batman movie "The Dark Knight" began screenings last month before its U.S. debut on Friday, some moviegoers saw Heath Ledger as an instant Oscar candidate as the deranged villain, The Joker.

By Alex Dobuzinskis
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Batman movie "The Dark Knight" should soar into the box office stratosphere with its U.S. debut in a record number of theaters on Friday that could propel it past the $100 million mark on its opening weekend, industry watchers said.

(Corrects title, paragraph 1)
By Iain Blair

By Steve Gorman
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Three cable TV shows from three networks, "Mad Men," "Damages" and "Dexter," claimed Emmy nominations for best drama on Thursday, marking a turning point in the 60-year-old competition for U.S. television's highest honors.

LONDON (Reuters) - An original watercolour illustration by Beatrix Potter for the final scene from the Rabbit Christmas Party set a new auction record on Thursday at 289,250 pounds ($578,700).

(Corrects Spader reference as drama actor, paras 11, 16)
By Steve Gorman

OTTAWA (Reuters) - The lead singer of the popular Canadian band the Barenaked Ladies will fight a recent cocaine charge in the United States, the band said in a statement posted on its website on Thursday.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Two new cable TV shows, "Mad Men" and "Damages," claimed Emmy nominations for best drama series on Thursday, marking a turning point in the 60-year-old contest for U.S. television's highest honors.

By Michelle Nichols
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Judy Bolton wants her 15 minutes of fame.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters Life!) - Hailing a taxicab on the streets of Los Angeles finally got the go-ahead on Wednesday, bringing the city into line with most major urban centers around the world.