Entertainment News Roundup: Woody Allen hails 'very lucky life' as he presents 50th film; Rolling Stones launch new album 'Hackney Diamonds' and more

Customers will need to pay an added cost for sports on the platform starting next year, the report said, citing people familiar with the matter. Ava DuVernay makes history with Venice premiere of 'Origin' Award-winning director Ava DuVernay on Wednesday became the first African American woman to present a movie in competition at the Venice Film Festival, overcoming sceptics who had tried to talk her out of applying.

Following is a summary of current entertainment news briefs.

Rolling Stones launch new album 'Hackney Diamonds'

The Rolling Stones announced "Hackney Diamonds", their first album of original music for 18 years and first since the death of drummer Charlie Watts, who played on two of the tracks, at the Hackney Empire on Wednesday. Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood - the surviving core of the 61-year-old band - appeared on stage at the London theatre to discuss the recording, before the premiere of the video of single "Angry", which features actress Sydney Sweeney.

Harrowing migrant drama puts spotlight on Europe border cruelty

After the media was denied access to migrants desperately trying to cross the Polish-Belarus border, director Agnieszka Holland decided to step in and make a wrenching movie about their plight. "Green Border", which premieres at the Venice Film Festival on Tuesday, tells the story of refugees, charity workers, activists and border guards, whose lives intersect in the cold, swampy forests between the two east European countries.

Ryuichi Sakamoto's last performance captured by son in Venice 'Opus'

In late 2022 celebrated Japanese musician Ryuichi Sakamoto, stricken with terminal cancer, spent nine days at a Tokyo studio performing 20 of his much-loved pieces from across his career. The pared-back performance, featuring just Sakamoto and his piano, was captured by his son, Neo Sora, and turned into a concert film "Opus" which is screening at the Venice Film Festival some six months after the 71-year-old composer died.

Woody Allen hails 'very lucky life' as he presents 50th film

U.S. director Woody Allen presented his 50th film to the Venice Film Festival on Monday, telling reporters he had had a "very, very lucky life", making no reference to the scandals that have dogged his latter years. "I have had nothing but good fortune and I hope it holds out, although obviously it is early this afternoon," he told reporters ahead of the premiere of his first French-language film, "Coup de Chance".

The Rolling Stones set to announce new album 'Hackney Diamonds'

The Rolling Stones are set to announce "Hackney Diamonds", their first album of original music for 18 years. The band, who formed more than six decades ago, heralded a "new album, new music, new era," on X, formerly Twitter, with details to be revealed on Wednesday.

Lviv's hottest ticket: a concert hall resurrecting Ukraine's repertoire

At a concert hall in western Ukraine, a classical music programme resurrecting lost and neglected works of Ukraine's repertoire is packing the house nightly, often featuring a resident orchestra that fled the war zone. Air raids occasionally interrupt the concerts, and musicians have played by candlelight during power cuts, but the Organ Hall in the city of Lviv - in a stately 17th century former Catholic Church - has become one of the hottest tickets in town.

Brazen, original, poetic: hip-hop's mark on fashion continues

As hip-hop celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, elements of the culture are expected to be on the runway during New York Fashion Week from Sept. 8-13, when American designers will showcase their latest collections. "Hip-hop fashion is defined by its brazenness, its originality, its verbal symphony. You know, hip-hop is poetry," said costume designer and entrepreneur June Ambrose, a creative director at Puma.

Warner Bros Discovery plans to offer live sports for free on Max - Bloomberg News

Warner Bros Discovery plans to offer live sports at no additional price on its Max streaming service for a short period later this year, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday. Customers will need to pay an added cost for sports on the platform starting next year, the report said, citing people familiar with the matter.

Ava DuVernay makes history with Venice premiere of 'Origin'

Award-winning director Ava DuVernay on Wednesday became the first African American woman to present a movie in competition at the Venice Film Festival, overcoming sceptics who had tried to talk her out of applying. "As Black film makers we are told people who love films in other parts of the world do not care about our stories," DuVernay told reporters ahead of the screening of her powerful, thought-provoking movie "Origin".