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Nedra Talley Ross, last surviving member of the Ronettes, dies aged 80

27 April 2026 at 03:06

Singer performed hits including Be My Baby with her cousins Ronnie Spector and Estelle Bennett

Nedra Talley Ross, the last surviving member of the 1960s pop band the Ronettes, has died aged 80.

Talley Ross, who was one part of the band with her cousins Ronnie Spector and Estelle Bennett, died at home on Sunday morning, her daughter Nedra K Ross announced on social media.

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© Photograph: Allstar Collection/Sportsphoto/Allstar

© Photograph: Allstar Collection/Sportsphoto/Allstar

© Photograph: Allstar Collection/Sportsphoto/Allstar

Michael moonwalks to $217m opening weekend, shattering box office records for a biopic

27 April 2026 at 01:43

Michael Jackson biopic has shrugged off controversy, bad reviews and a troubled production to take $217m worldwide, including $97m in North America

Michael, the big-budget Michael Jackson biopic, has shrugged off bad reviews and a troubled production to launch with a $97m opening in North American theaters, contributing to its enormous $217m (£160m, A$303m) worldwide box office and shattering the record for the biggest biopic opening of all time.

The film, a highly authorised portrayal of the “king of pop” that was co-produced by the Jackson estate and stars Jackson’s nephew Jaafar Jackson, took $120.4m internationally and $97m domestic – combining to surpass Oppenheimer’s $180.4m worldwide opening weekend in 2023 and Bohemian Rhapsody’s $124m in 2018.

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© Photograph: Glen Wilson/AP

© Photograph: Glen Wilson/AP

© Photograph: Glen Wilson/AP

After collapse and controversy, Adelaide writers’ week has a new director: ‘I don’t envy anyone in this position’

23 April 2026 at 14:35

Rosemarie Milsom, who formed and runs Newcastle writers festival, will take over from Louise Adler after the literary festival imploded over invitation to Randa Abdel-Fattah

In January, as the implosion of Adelaide writers’ week made headlines around Australia and the world, Rosemarie Milsom was watching closely.

The Adelaide festival board, which oversees AWW, had overridden the literary festival’s director, Louise Adler, and disinvited the Palestinian Australian author Randa Abdel-Fattah over past comments she’d made about Israel and Zionism. This decision resulted not in a quieter, less-controversial festival as the board members may have hoped, but a boycott by 200-odd writers, the resignation of Adler – followed by the whole board – a potential defamation lawsuit against the South Australian premier and the collapse of AWW.

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© Photograph: Edwina Richards

© Photograph: Edwina Richards

© Photograph: Edwina Richards

  • ✇The Guardian World news
  • David Malouf, Australian author of Remembering Babylon and Ransom, dies aged 92 Sian Cain
    Acclaimed Brisbane-born writer was known for his work exploring his own childhood, great myths and colonial AustraliaObituary: David Malouf, Australian writer whose work spanned the ancient world and 70s BrisbaneDavid Malouf, the acclaimed Australian author of books including Ransom, An Imaginary Life and the Booker prize-nominated Remembering Babylon, has died aged 92.Malouf died on Wednesday, his publisher, Penguin Random House Australia, said in a statement on Thursday. Continue reading...
     

David Malouf, Australian author of Remembering Babylon and Ransom, dies aged 92

23 April 2026 at 07:19

Acclaimed Brisbane-born writer was known for his work exploring his own childhood, great myths and colonial Australia

David Malouf, the acclaimed Australian author of books including Ransom, An Imaginary Life and the Booker prize-nominated Remembering Babylon, has died aged 92.

Malouf died on Wednesday, his publisher, Penguin Random House Australia, said in a statement on Thursday.

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© Photograph: Ulf Andersen/Getty Images

© Photograph: Ulf Andersen/Getty Images

© Photograph: Ulf Andersen/Getty Images

  • ✇The Guardian World news
  • The Strokes use Coachella set to denounce US foreign intervention Sian Cain
    Band shows montage of leaders whose death or ousting the CIA has been proven or suspected to have been part ofUS band the Strokes have used their Coachella set to make a stark political statement against America’s history of foreign intervention and war in other countries, including Iran and Palestine.At the end of their set at the second weekend of the California music festival, the band performed their 2016 song Oblivius in front of giant LED screens that showed a montage of world leaders whos
     

The Strokes use Coachella set to denounce US foreign intervention

20 April 2026 at 05:50

Band shows montage of leaders whose death or ousting the CIA has been proven or suspected to have been part of

US band the Strokes have used their Coachella set to make a stark political statement against America’s history of foreign intervention and war in other countries, including Iran and Palestine.

At the end of their set at the second weekend of the California music festival, the band performed their 2016 song Oblivius in front of giant LED screens that showed a montage of world leaders whose death or ousting the CIA has either been a proven or suspected party in, as lead singer Julian Casablancas sang the lyrics: “What side you standing on?”

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© Photograph: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Coachella

© Photograph: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Coachella

© Photograph: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Coachella

  • ✇The Guardian World news
  • Kanye West’s European tour in doubt as more concerts cancelled in Poland and Switzerland Sian Cain
    FC Basel and Polish stadium stop US rapper’s upcoming shows, after similar cancellations in France and UK over antisemitic commentsKanye West’s upcoming concerts in Poland and Switzerland have been cancelled, as a growing number of European countries have stopped or postponed the US rapper’s performances amid a furore over his past antisemitic comments.Swiss football club FC Basel, which is responsible for concerts and events that take place at its St Jakob-Park ground, told Reuters on Saturday
     

Kanye West’s European tour in doubt as more concerts cancelled in Poland and Switzerland

20 April 2026 at 01:46

FC Basel and Polish stadium stop US rapper’s upcoming shows, after similar cancellations in France and UK over antisemitic comments

Kanye West’s upcoming concerts in Poland and Switzerland have been cancelled, as a growing number of European countries have stopped or postponed the US rapper’s performances amid a furore over his past antisemitic comments.

Swiss football club FC Basel, which is responsible for concerts and events that take place at its St Jakob-Park ground, told Reuters on Saturday that after reviewing a request for West to perform there in June, it decided against it.

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© Photograph: Ashley Landis/AP

© Photograph: Ashley Landis/AP

© Photograph: Ashley Landis/AP

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