Entertainment News Roundup: Montserrat Caballe passes away; painting self-destructs at sale

Following is a summary of current entertainment news briefs.

'We just got Banksy-ed': balloon girl painting self-destructs at sale

A painting by mysterious British artist Banksy shred itself into pieces at the moment it sold for more than 1 million pounds at a London auction on Friday. Onlookers gasped and laughed after the bottom half of "Girl with Balloon", one of Banksy's best-known works, was sucked into a shredder hidden in its frame as the hammer fell, auction house Sotheby's said.

Opera singer Montserrat Caballe dies in Barcelona, aged 85

Montserrat Caballe, who took opera into the pop charts by singing "Barcelona" with Freddie Mercury three decades ago, died aged 85 on Saturday. The Spanish soprano, who was born in the Catalan capital, had been in ill health for a number of years and was admitted to hospital in mid-September, a hospital official said. She died in Sant Pau hospital in Barcelona.

Mourners bid farewell to legendary Spanish soprano Montserrat Caballe

Spanish royalty, politicians and Catalan tenor Jose Carreras joined family and friends of legendary soprano singer Montserrat Caballe for her funeral on Monday, two days after her death at the age of 85. Caballe, famed for her powerful, soaring voice, enjoyed an international career spanning nearly six decades and was known not only for her great operatic performances. In 1987 she released the song "Barcelona", an anthem to her native city, with Freddie Mercury, lead singer of British rock group Queen.

Emmy-winning comedian Katt Williams arrested in Oregon assault

Emmy-winning comedian Katt Williams was arrested for allegedly assaulting a limousine driver at a Portland, Oregon airport in a confrontation over the transportation of the celebrity's dog, authorities said on Sunday. Airport police said Williams, 47, got into an argument late on Friday with the driver after Williams asked for a ride with his dog from a private aviation terminal to a performance centre in the city.

Box office: 'Venom' launches to $80 million, 'A Star Is Born' draws $42.6 million

The unlikely dynamic duo of "Venom" and "A Star Is Born" have livened up the fall moviegoing season with the best October weekend of all time in North America. Tom Hardy's superhero tale "Venom" grabbed $80 million at 4,250 sites for Sony and Marvel while the Lady Gaga-starring remake of "A Star Is Born" earned an estimated $42.6 million at 3,686 locations for Warner Bros. -- well above pre-weekend forecasts. "Venom" smashed the record for an October opening, topping the $55.8 million launch of "Gravity" by 43%.

(With inputs from agencies.)