Leonardo DiCaprio might be banned from Indonesia over his criticism of palm oil plantations, which he said were destroying the country's rainforests and endangering wildlife, an immigration official said yesterday. The Oscar-winning made a one-day visit to protected Mount Leuser National Park in northern Sumatra last weekend and uploaded photos to his Instagram account, expressing concerns over species whose habitats are threatened. "The expansion of palm oil plantations is fragmenting the forest and cutting off key elephant migration corridors," he wrote. "A world-class biodiversity hotspot, but palm oil expansion is destroying this unique place." Heru Santoso, spokesman for the Directorate General for Immigration at the Law and Human Rights Ministry, said that DiCaprio used his visit to discredit the palm oil industry and the Indonesian government. He said they support his concerns but could blacklist him if he continues to post incitement or provocative statements. – AP
Timberlake gets sued by Cirque du Soleil
Cirque du Soleil has sued Justin Timberlake over his hit song, Don't Hold the Wall. The Canadian theatrical performance company says that the song copied part of one of its original compositions without permission. The song appeared on Timberlake's 2013 double album 20/20, which has sold more than two million copies. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in New York, says Timberlake borrowed from the song Steel Dream, which was on Cirque du Soleil's 1997 album, Quidam. It seeks a minimum of US$800,000 (Dh2.9 million) in damages for copyright infringement. – Reuters
Celebrities in mourning for Indian TV star
Bollywood and TV celebrities have taken to social media to share their shock about the untimely death of Indian TV actress Pratyusha Banerjee, who played Anandi in the show Balika Vadhu. The 24-year-old actress reportedly took her own life last week. Personalities including Karan Johar, Arbaaz Khan, Simi Garewal and Karishma Tanna sent their condolences to her family. "The only serial I've watched was Balika Vadhu. For her! Very sad. Only 24. It's too tough here for girls without family support," wrote former actress and TV show host Simi Garewal. Karan Johar added: "This is just so sad and a wake up call to families and friends who don't consider depression as a medical condition. RIP Pratyusha Banerjee... A girl died, let her loved ones mourn in peace. Social media may not have a conscience, but can it have a heart?" Rishi Kapoor posted: "What a shame! Such a lovely person should [commit] suicide! Who knows the turmoil within her. RIP. – IANS
Naughty Boy questions Zayn song credit
British producer Naughty Boy is not happy about being removed from Zayn Malik's debut solo album, Mind of Mine. He reignited their feud when he called out Malik over the former One Direction singer's songwriting claims. Issues began when Malik told a fan on Twitter that Pillowtalk was the first song he wrote for the album. Moments later, Naughty Boy replied in a now deleted tweet saying "Lol", reports aceshowbiz.com. He also tagged MYKL (MakeYouKnowLove), who co-wrote the track. He went on to explain in another tweet: "This ain't about me... It's just about giving credit to MakeYouKnowLove for writing an amazing song, that's all... Bless. Have a great day." Once friends, Malik and Naughty Boy worked closely after Malik announced his departure from One Direction, but their relationship fell apart after Malik accused the producer of leaking one of his tracks. – The National Staff
Kanye West releases latest album on more platforms
Rapper Kanye West's new album, The Life of Pablo, which has been available exclusively on subscription-based music streaming service Tidal for more than a month, has finally been released in full on other platforms. The album was released in its entirety on other streaming services including Apple Music, Google Play Music and Spotify on Friday, reports aceshowbiz.com. It is also available for download on West's website KanyeWest.com, for US$20 (Dh73), but hasn't been released on iTunes yet. Upon the wide release of the album, West's label Def Jam noted that he would still make changes to 19 tracks off the album, which he called a "living breathing changing creative expression". The label said that in the coming months the artist will release new updates, versions and iterations of the album. – IANS
Deepika Padukone will not be a part of Baahubali 2
Actress Deepika Padukone is not part of the second instalment of the Baahubali franchise, contrary to some reports, a source says. The film's director SS Rajamouli is shooting portions of the film in Ramoji Film City, Hyderabad. Actors Prabhas and Anushka Shetty have also already joined the sets, while Rana Dagubatti will join from May, after he wraps up Hindi-Telugu bilingual, Ghazi. Tipped to be even more majestic than the first part, the film is likely to hit the screens on April 14 next year. – IANS
Beyoncé jumps into ‘athleisure’ market
Beyoncé has launched a women’s fitness-clothing line featuring bodysuits, leggings and headbands, named in part for her 4-year-old daughter, Blue Ivy. Called Ivy Park, the 200-piece active wear collection is a joint venture with British businessman Sir Philip Green, who owns the Topshop fashion chain. The collection will feature leggings, T-shirts, crop-tops and jackets designed for fitness and leisure wear. It will go on sale at selected Topshop and high-end department stores around the world on April 14 Beyoncé, one of the most influential celebrities in the world, announced the line by posting photos on her Instagram account. She also released a video in which she dances, swims and works out in some of the clothes, and she is featured on the cover of the April issue of Elle magazine promoting the brand. –Reuters