Bollywood actors Amitabh Bachchan and Aamir Khan were among those who had to be evacuated when a fire broke out at a lavish cultural show in Mumbai. It was part of an economic event, Make in India, which is designed to encourage foreign investment. Video from the scene, an enclosure on Chowpatty Beach, showed the fire blazing under a stage while dancers above it continued their act, the BBC reported. VIP guests, including the state chief minister, had to wave at them to stop. The blaze, which was thought to have been caused by a short circuit, was brought under control and no one was hurt. – The National staff
Pakistan drops YouTube ban
Pakistan has removed a three-year ban on YouTube after the Google-owned video-sharing website launched a local version that allows the government to remove material it considers offensive. Pakistan banned access to the video-hosting site in September 2012 after a trailer for an anti-Islam film, Innocence of Muslims, was uploaded to the site, sparking violent protests across major cities in the Muslim-majority country of 190 million people. The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecom said the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority can now ask for access to offending material to be blocked, according to Ahram Online. Pakistan has blocked thousands of web pages in the past few years as internet access spreads in the country, but activists accuse the government of also blocking sites to muzzle liberal or critical voices. – The National staff
Deadpool kills at the box office
Deadpool took the box office by storm during its opening weekend in North America, smashing records with an estimated US$135 million (Dh4.95m) in ticket sales during its first three days. The Fox film – a spin-off from X-Men, starring Ryan Reynolds as a foul-mouthed superhero – easily trounced last year's record-setting $85.2m February debut of Fifty Shades of Grey. It is also the biggest opening by an R-rated film, surpassing The Matrix Reloaded's $91.8m in May 2003. Analysts predict that director Tim Miller's film, which cost only $58m to produce, could go on to make $150m by the end of the US President's Day holiday weekend. The film, which will be out in the UAE on Thursday, had been expected to pull in at best $80m. "This movie is the very definition of an expectation-buster. Nobody saw this coming," said Paul Dergarabedian, comScore's senior media analyst. Coming in a distant second was last weekend's No 1 film, Kung Fu Panda 3 with $19.7m, followed by R-rated romcom How to Be Single with $18.8m out of the gates. Dismally reviewed Ben Stiller comedy Zoolander 2 debuted in fourth place with only $15.7m. – AP
‘Diversity is not an issue at Grammys’
A veteran executive producer of the Grammys says the awards show does not have a diversity issue like the Oscars, and it is not fair to compare them. Ahead of Monday's Grammy ceremony, the Grammys faced criticism for plans to pay tribute to recently deceased white performers such as David Bowie and The Eagles' Glenn Frey with live performances, though black acts such as Natalie Cole and Maurice White of Earth, Wind & Fire were not receiving the same treatment. Ken Ehrlich said he thought about booking a performer to honour Cole, but then watched her 1992 Grammys performance of her singing in sync with her father, Nat King Cole, who appeared in a video. Ehrlich called the performance "unbelievably touching" and said the video would be played at the end of the "In Memorium" section of the awards show. – AP
Protest at SRK’s Raees shoot
After attracting trouble in Bhuj a few days ago, the Ahmedabad leg of Shah Rukh Khan's Raees shoot has also encountered problems, according to Mumbai Mirror. In Kutch, the Vishva Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal activists protested against SRK for his statements in November about intolerance being a major issue. On Sunday, bikers threw stones at the actor's car at Hyatt Regency on Ahmedabad's Ashram Road. After the incident, security for SRK and the film's crew was increased. – The National staff
First Spider-Man comic set to raise US$400k
A supermarket baker is set to make US$400,000 (Dh1.4 million) when he sells his copy of the comic that featured the debut of Spider-Man at auction this month. Walter Yakoboski bought Amazing Fantasy No 15, published in 1962, in 1980 for $1,200. The 60-year-old said he would use the proceeds to buy his late father's 17-acre vegetable farm in Calverton on eastern Long Island. He was recently laid off after more than 27 years as a baker. He is also selling a 1963 issue of Spider-Man, as well as two Fantastic Four editions and a Justice League of America, which could bring an additional $75,000 in total. – AP