Furious 7 star Vin Diesel, 47, and his partner Paloma Jiminez, 31, are celebrating the birth of their third child. It was reported last month that the Abu Dhabi premiere of the latest film in the Fast and the Furious franchise, which was partly filmed in the capital, had been cancelled because the baby was due around the same time. The actor posted a photo of himself with the newborn on his Facebook page with a quote from the lyrics of the song It's a Wonderful World: "I hear babies crying, I watch them grow. They'll learn much more, Than I'll ever know. And I think to myself, What a wonderful world ..." The baby's name and gender were not revealed. – The National staff
Paul Walker jokes cut from Bieber TV roast
Broadcaster Comedy Central has announced that the controversial jokes about the car crash that killed Fast and the Furious star Paul Walker made by guests at the Roast of Justin Bieber at the weekend will be cut when the event is broadcast on March 30. "Roasts often push the limits of good taste and we give the participants full rein to try things knowing we have the edit to shape the show," said a spokesman. "Sometimes the line is discovered by crossing it. The Paul Walker references will not be in the telecast." One of the tasteless jokes was cracked by comedian Jeff Ross while Walker's Furious 7 co-star Ludacris was on stage and he was visibly upset. – The National staff
New Kardashians video game planned
Glu Mobile is keeping up with the Kardashians. The mobile video-game developer responsible for the Kim Kardashian: Hollywood game announced plans Tuesday to create a game starring her half-sisters Kendall and Kylie Jenner. The San Francisco-based creator of free-to-play games said the title would feature the likenesses, voices and creative influences of the 19- and 17-year-old Keeping Up with the Kardashians co-stars and models, who also appeared in Kardashian's game. Last month, Glu Mobile reported a better-than-expected fourth-quarter profit. "Kendall and Kylie are kind of a different generation than Kim," said Glu's chief executive Niccolo de Masi. "They're Generation Z. Kim's followers are in their late 20s and 30s, but Kendall and Kylie's followers are in their teens and early 20s. The aspirations won't be the same." Last month, Glu announced plans for a game starring singer Katy Perry. – AP
Fashion Police put on hiatus
Fashion Police is being put on hold after losing co-hosts Kelly Osbourne and Kathy Griffin and will "evolve" into a different show when it returns in the autumn, the E! cable TV channel has announced. Co-hosts Giuliana Rancic and Brad Goreski and executive producer Melissa Rivers, daughter of the show's late host Joan Rivers, will return in September, it added. Previously, E! had said the show would next air as scheduled on March 30 despite the departure of Osbourne and Griffin. The hiatus news came a day after Griffin went on chat show The View and discussed why she chose to quit this month after only seven episodes. The comedian, who replaced the late Joan Rivers, her friend and mentor, said the E! series didn't suit her improvisational style and that she felt forced to "comment about pictures of beautiful women in perfect dresses and say kind of bad things". As a feminist and a comic, she said, it didn't feel right. Osbourne left the show last month after complaining about Rancic's red-carpet criticism of African-American singer-actress Zendaya's dreadlocks, which she said suggested the smell of marijuana. E! did not reveal how Fashion Police would change or who its new hosts will be. – AP
Kendrick Lamar breaks Spotify record
Rapper Kendrick Lamar’s latest album has broken the first-day record on Spotify after its surprise early release. To Pimp a Butterfly was streamed more than 9.6 million times on Monday. The previous record-holder was Michael Buble’s Christmas album in 2011. Spotify did not provide figures, but the subscriber base for the service, which it says is now about 60 million, was significantly smaller four years ago. Spotify and other streaming services enjoyed an advantage on the album because the record label apparently released it early by mistake on Sunday. With no physical copies out yet, streaming services were momentarily one of the main places to hear it. With its personal explorations of racism and the struggles to achieve personal strength, it is Lamar’s first album in three years. – AFP
Leonard Cohen to release new album
Reinvigorated at 80 by the success of his album Popular Problems, released last October, legendary Canadian singer Leonard Cohen will release a new opus in May, but with only two new songs.
Another eight live tracks were recorded during Cohen's recent tour for Can't Forget: A Souvenir of the Grand Tour, Sony Music Entertainment Canada said.
The release comes on the heels of a Canadian Album of the Year award for Popular Problems at the Junos on Sunday.
On the new album, Cohen "brings the colours of his virtuoso band to full bloom in harmony with his voice, never more seductive," in live performances of I Can't Forget, Light as the Breeze, Night Comes On, and Joan of Arc.
These were recorded during his 2008 to 2013 live concert tour, which totalled 470 shows in 31 countries for four million fans. He also recorded two brand new songs, Never Gave Nobody Trouble and Got a Little Secret, for the album to be released on May 12. – AFP
Andy Fraser passes away
Andy Fraser, who co-wrote the rousing rock anthem All Right Now when he was the teenage bassist for the British rock band Free, has died in California at age 62.
Fraser had been living in the California desert community of Temecula, where he died on Monday, the Riverside County coroner said. The cause of death is not yet known and is being investigated.
At age 15, the London-born Fraser briefly became a member of John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers. The group was a training ground for young British rockers including Eric Clapton and Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor.
Within a year, Fraser became a founding member of Free. The band’s most prominent member was singer and guitarist Paul Rodgers, who would also go on to front Bad Company and The Firm.
The band's biggest hit was 1970's All Right Now, which remains one of the defining hits of classic rock radio. Fraser also produced the track and played a bass solo on it.
Fraser kept playing music for most of his life, but he would never equal the success he had as a teen with Free, which broke up in 1972. He and Rodgers took the stage together to play All Right Now at Woodstock `94, the reboot of the classic music festival. – AP
Mexico City downtown closed off to shoot James Bond film
Officials in Mexico City are closing off some parts of the historic downtown district to allow filming of parts of the new James Bond thriller Spectre.
The city of 8 million people is infamous for its heavy traffic, which might otherwise interfere with filming.
Officials said the street closures will begin today and continue until April 1. Affected areas include streets with buildings dating back to the 17th century and the city’s vast central plaza, the Zocalo.
Filmmakers have apparently already prepared some spots downtown for filming, including one street adorned with traditional Day of the Dead decorations.
The Sam Mendes-directed movie, starring Daniel Craig as 007, is also due to film in London, Italy, Morocco and Austria. – AP