British actress Billie Whitelaw, famous for her intense collaboration with playwright Samuel Beckett who wrote several roles for her, died on Sunday aged 82, her son told the BBC.

Described by Beckett as the "perfect actress", Whitelaw became the playwright's muse and they created a series of experimental performances together.

Madonna and Sony Pictures both were separately torpedoed by major hacks this month, in what the pop icon called "crazy times."

"Shit, this is the age that we're living in. It's crazy," she told Billboard magazine, when asked about the investigation into how at least 10 of her unfinished, unreleased songs were leaked onto the Internet.

The United States has dismissed a call by North Korea for a joint investigation into the hacking of Sony Pictures and wants China to help block cyber attacks from Pyongyang.

Washington blames North Korea for a breach of cyber security at Sony which led to the release of embarrassing emails and prompted executives to halt the release of "The Interview".

South Africa on Saturday welcomed back home its first Miss World winner in 40 years, Rolene Strauss, with wild cheers and ululations.

Hundreds turned up at O.R. Tambo International Airport to greet Strauss after the 22-year-old medical student was crowned Miss World 2014 at a glitzy final in London last Sunday.

Ashanti is appalled by the prospect of facing her accused stalker again in court, but the Grammy-winning R&B singer said Friday she's determined to see the case through after a mistrial.

A juror's illness prompted a mistrial during deliberations Thursday in Devar Hurd's case, which marks the second time in five years he's been tried on charges of harassing the singer or her relatives.

Six European, two Latin American and one African film have made the shortlist for the foreign language Oscar, announced in Los Angeles Friday.

Films by directors from Argentina, Estonia, Georgia, Mauritania, Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Sweden, Venezuela made the shortlist, which will be narrowed down to five nominees next month ahead of the February show. 

Live Nation on Friday expanded its empire of global music festivals by acquiring C3 Presents, which runs the acclaimed Austin City Limits and Lollapalooza.

The two companies said that Live Nation Entertainment would take a controlling stake in C3 Presents, subject to regulatory approval. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Sony Pictures boss Michael Lynton denied Friday the Hollywood studio has "caved" by canceling the release of "The Interview," and said it still hoped to release the controversial film.

He also hit back at President Barack Obama's claim that it had made a "mistake" in pulling the movie, three and a half weeks after a massive cyber-attack blamed on North Korea angered by the film.

Rising rapper Bobby Shmurda, who scored a top 10 hit that spawned the "Shmoney Dance" craze, on Thursday was facing 25 years in prison on violence and drug charges.

Shmurda and seven associates were arrested early Wednesday morning near a recording studio in New York's Times Square, while seven others were arrested elsewhere, prosecutors said.

Court records show Kris and Bruce Jenner have finalized their divorce, but they won't be officially single until March.

A Los Angeles judge on Tuesday signed off on the couple's divorce judgment that ends the pair's 23-year marriage.