Band Aid returns to battle Ebola

Also, Salman Khan's sister to wed, win an all paid expense trip to the Bigg Boss house, Egyptian comic has a cancer operation and legendary tv producer dies.

Musician Bob Gelfof. Neil Hall / Reuters

Bob Geldof, One Direction, Bono and about 30 of the biggest music stars gathered at a studio in London on Saturday to record a 30th anniversary version of the Band Aid charity single to raise money to fight Ebola. Led Zeppelin's Robert Plant, Coldplay's Chris Martin and Sinead O'Connor were also among the singers brought together by Geldof to sing the fourth version of Do They Know It's Christmas?. The musicians began arriving early in the morning and recording continued well into the night. The single was due to be broadcast for the first time yesterday before going on sale today. The Ebola outbreak has claimed more than 5,000 lives since December, according to the World Health Organization. The number of cases worldwide is more than 14,000. The original Band Aid song became one of the world's biggest-selling singles ever, when it was released in 1984 to raise funds for famine relief in Ethiopia. –AFP

Salman Khan’s sister to wed

Arpita Khan, the Bollywood superstar Salman Khan’s younger sister, is getting married tomorrow to Aayush Sharma, the son of a New Delhi businessman. The glittering two-day extravaganza will be held at the Falaknuma Palace in Hyderabad, in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The guest list includes top Bollywood stars including the Bachchans, Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Dharmendra and Hema Malini. – The National staff

Win a trip to Bigg Boss house

Salman Khan fans have the chance to win an all-­expenses-paid trip to the Bigg Boss house in India. Just visit a Splash Fashions store by Saturday, spend at least Dh150, take a photo with the Salman Khan poster at the store, and then post it on www.facebook.com/SplashFashions to enter yourself in the competition. – The National staff

Egyptian comic has cancer op

The Egyptian comedian and actor Ahmed Helmy is in intensive care at a hospital in the United States after cancer surgery. His condition is thought to be improving, Al Arabiya reported; but it was unclear how long he would have to remain in hospital. An unnamed source said Helmy had been in Germany, where his wife was receiving medical treatment for problems with her immune system, when doctors found a malignant tumour. The ­tumour was reportedly in his back, Egypt’s Al-Youm Al-Sabi newspaper reported, adding that he had undergone the procedure 10 days ago. Helmy, a popular figure, is a celebrated actor and ­comedian in Egypt and the Arab world. He found fame in the 1980s on a TV comedy and is known for using comedy to tackle social issues in his films. He has also worked with the UN’s World Food ­Program. – The National staff

Legendary TV producer dies

The legendary American television producer Glen A Larson, who created dozens of much-loved TV shows including the original Battlestar Galactica, Knight Rider, Magnum, PI and Quincy, ME, has died at the age of 77 after a battle with cancer. A powerhouse in 1970s and 1980s American TV, he churned out dozens of hits. He also co-wrote the theme songs for some of his shows, including the tune from Knight Rider, and the orchestral theme from Battlestar Galactica, for which he received a Grammy nomination. Born in 1937, Larson's first writing credit was for an episode of The Fugitive in 1966. He quickly rose through the ranks to produce some of the biggest TV shows of the time, with nearly 50 to his name. He died on Friday night of complications from esophageal cancer. –AP