All about Netflix and Kenya Barris agreement, Scarlett's achievement, Unfair Commercial Practice

Netflix Inc has signed a deal with American television producer and writer Kenya Barris, the creator of ABC's comedy show "Black-ish", as the streaming giant diversifies its original content.

With pictures and songs, fans pay tribute as Madonna turns 60

From pictures of their favorite Madonna looks to naming their top tracks by the songstress, fans paid tribute to the "Queen of Pop" on Thursday as the "Material Girl" turned 60.

Yes Bishes Its my Birthday! 🎂🎂🎂! Thank you to my fans and friends all around the world! 🌍🌎🌏. #berber #bedouin #marakesh #magic #inspiration #blessed 🙏🏼 ♥️🇲🇦 pic.twitter.com/eoj7fbw19R

— Madonna (@Madonna) August 16, 2018

Taking to social media under the hashtag #MadonnaAt60 fans young and old - and some famous in their own right - sent birthday wishes to the music superstar, known for repeatedly reinventing herself during her 35-year pop career.

Netflix signs 'Black-ish' creator Kenya Barris for content push

Netflix Inc has signed a deal with American television producer and writer Kenya Barris, the creator of ABC's comedy show "Black-ish", as the streaming giant diversifies its original content.

BREAKING: #blackish creator Kenya Barris has officially signed an 8-FIGURE deal with Netflix to develop new projects there. The streaming giant says he'll create stories that "reflect culture through an urban, youth and female-focused lens." https://t.co/PGJ8XG9WQY

— Trey (@treymangum) August 16, 2018

Emmy-nominated Barris will write and produce projects under his production company Khalabo Ink Society, the company said in a statement https://media.netflix.com/en/press-releases/netflix-makes-overall-series-deal-with-kenya-barris on Thursday.

After #MeToo, Hollywood women seize power behind TV camera

When writer and producer Stacy Rukeyser suggested featuring a female venture capitalist looking for a husband on the Lifetime television drama "Unreal," network executives asked if she could turn the character into someone with "a much more traditional, demure sense of femininity." "I got the request 'do you think we could change it? Maybe she could be a kindergarten teacher,'" Rukeyser said at a recent Producers Guild of America conference.

Scarlett Johansson leaps to the top of Forbes' highest-paid actresses

Scarlett Johansson's role as Marvel superhero Black Widow catapulted her to the top of Forbes' annual list of the world's highest-paid actresses on Thursday, landing her ahead of Angelina Jolie. Johansson, 33, took in $40.5 million in pre-tax earnings from June 1, 2017, to June 1, 2018, quadrupling her income from the previous year, according to Forbes' calculations.

Emma Thompson, 59, wants more film roles for older women

Oscar-winning British actress Emma Thompson, now starring at age 59 as a family court judge in the dramatic movie "The Children Act," said on Thursday that older women still need more opportunity on the big screen. Known for period dramas such as "Howards End" and "Sense and Sensibility," Thompson plays a judge who struggles with a legal decision while also dealing with trouble in her marriage.

Rapper Stormzy to fund Cambridge university scholarship for two black students

Rapper Stormzy said on Thursday he will fund two black British students to go to Cambridge University through a scholarship, after criticism of some top UK universities that their admissions processes do not do enough to ensure diversity. His move came as a record proportion of 18-year-olds in England and Wales learned they will be heading to university after receiving their A-level exam results.

#UnfairCommercialPractice? The UK investigates celebrities over social media promotions

Celebrities and influencers who endorse products without labeling their social media posts as paid-for by brands were warned on Thursday that they were breaking the rules as Britain's regulator launched an investigation into the trend. Recommendation from celebrities and social media influencers who have millions of followers is a growing marketing strategy for brands, but the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said that such endorsements could mislead customers.

'Queen of Soul' Aretha Franklin, 76, dies at home in Detroit

Aretha Franklin, the preacher's daughter whose powerful voice made her the long-reigning "Queen of Soul" with such hit songs as "Respect" and "Chain of Fools," died on Thursday at the age of 76, officials said. Franklin, who won 18 Grammy Awards and had some 25 gold records, died at her home in Detroit surrounded by family and loved ones, her publicist said. She had been battling advanced pancreatic cancer.

(With inputs from Reuters)