Reuters People News Summary

Following is a summary of current people news briefs. George Clooney urges boycott of Brunei-owned hotels over nation's gay sex penalties

Oscar-winning actor George Clooney has called for a boycott of luxury hotels, including the Beverly Hills Hotel, owned by Brunei because of the Southeast Asian nation's plans to impose the death penalty for people having gay sex or committing adultery. Brunei, a former British protectorate, has stated it will roll out new Sharia law punishments from April 3 that include death by stoning or whipping for sodomy, adultery, or rape. Angelina Jolie pushes for women to be part of Afghan peace talks

Academy Award-winning actress and refugee activist Angelina Jolie pushed for the inclusion of women in peace talks to end the conflict in Afghanistan during an address to ministers and diplomats at the United Nations on Friday. Peace talks between U.S. and Taliban officials began late last year. However, some women fear the freedoms eked out since U.S.-backed Afghan forces overthrew the Taliban in 2001 could slide backwards, and complain their voices are being sidelined. Liam Neeson apologizes for revenge remarks: 'I missed the point'

Actor Liam Neeson on Friday issued an apology for what he called an "impulsive recounting" last month of an incident 40 years ago when he wanted to kill a black man in response to the rape of a friend. In a statement, Neeson apologized for his "unacceptable thoughts and actions" decades ago, adding that while trying to explain his feelings "I missed the point and hurt many people." Agnes Varda, grande dame of French cinema, dies aged 90

Agnes Varda, the Belgian-born grande dame of French cinema and an influential force behind the New Wave movement, died at her home in Paris on Friday. She was 90 years old. A close contemporary of cinema legends such as Francois Truffaut and Jean-Luc Godard, Varda won an honorary Oscar in 2017 and the Berlin Film Festival's Berlinale Camera lifetime achievement award only last month. Chicago prosecutor defends dropping charges in Jussie Smollett case

Chicago's top prosecutor said on Wednesday that her office believed actor Jussie Smollett "culpable" in the criminal case where police say he staged being the victim of a hate crime attack but said her office never intended to seal the court records. But Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx, whose office has come under criticism for abruptly and secretly dropping the charges against Smollett, in an interview with local ABC7-TV side-stepped questions over whether she personally believed he was guilty. Trump weighs in on Smollett case as Chicago demands reimbursement

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday the Department of Justice would "review" the uproar surrounding actor Jussie Smollett, who was charged with staging a fake hate-crime attack on himself in Chicago before prosecutors abruptly dropped the case this week. Hours after Trump announced the review in a Twitter message calling the case a national embarrassment, the city sent the actor a letter demanding he reimburse police for $130,000 in overtime costs for the investigation.