People News Roundup: Mario Batali to face assault charge; Judith Kerr dies aged 95

Celebrity chef Mario Batali to face indecent assault charge in Boston court

Celebrity chef and former television star Mario Batali is due in a Boston court on Friday to face a criminal charge that he forcibly groped and kissed a woman at a restaurant in 2017. Batali, 58, is set to be arraigned in Boston Municipal Court after being charged with indecent assault and battery.

The 1975, Mariah Carey and Dido honored at Ivor Novellos

Pop rock band The 1975 were the big winners at the Ivor Novellos in London on Thursday, scooping two major prizes at Britain's annual awards honouring songwriting and composing. Chart-topper Mariah Carey and ballad singer Dido were also honoured at the 64th edition of the awards named after the early 20th-century Welsh composer, actor and entertainer.

Leonard Cohen's 'So Long, Marianne' love letters up for auction

A collection of love letters written by Canadian musician Leonard Cohen to the woman who inspired his song, "So Long, Marianne" is going up for auction next month, two years after both of them died. The archive of 50 letters from Cohen to Marianne Ihlen chronicles their 1960s love affair and the blossoming of Cohen's career from struggling poet to famous singer-songwriter, Christie's New York auction house said on Wednesday.

Procrastinating genius: did da Vinci have attention disorder?

Renaissance genius Leonardo da Vinci's litany of exquisite but unfinished work shows he probably had an attention disorder common to modern society. That is the view of psychiatry professor Marco Catani, who believes Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) explains both da Vinci's chronic procrastination and his creative drive in the arts and sciences.

'Tiger Who Came to Tea' author Judith Kerr dies aged 95

Author Judith Kerr, who enchanted generations of children with simply illustrated tales such as "The Tiger Who Came to Tea" and "Mog the Forgetful Cat", has died at the age of 95. The death of one of the most popular authors of children's books in the 20th Century was announced by her publisher, Harper Collins, which said Kerr had died after a short illness. It did not specify a cause.

Kenyan writer Wainaina, challenger of African stereotypes, dies at 48

Binyavanga Wainaina, the award-winning Kenyan writer who challenged stereotypes of Africa with biting satire and took on prejudice by documenting his life as an openly gay man, has died aged 48. The author, essayist and campaigner - who also championed African literature through the Kwani Trust he founded with other writers - passed away in Nairobi on Tuesday, the organization's chairman, Tom Maliti, said.

Rihanna launches new fashion brand in Paris with LVMH

Barbadian singer Rihanna has unveiled her new fashion brand with Louis Vuitton owner LVMH, a rare move by the French group to set up a label from scratch as it taps into soaring demand for celebrity collaborations in the luxury world. Fenty - after the "Umbrella" hitmaker's full name, Robyn Rihanna Fenty - will build on the singer's existing joint venture in cosmetics with LVMH, with a full range of clothing, shoes and accessories.

Australian actor Geoffrey Rush wins record defamation payout

Australian actor Geoffrey Rush has been awarded an A$2.8 million ($1.9 million) defamation payment against a News Corp tabloid, the largest defamation payout in Australian history after it accused him in reports of inappropriate behaviour. Australia's Federal Court ordered that an Australian arm of News Corp pay the Oscar-winning actor A$1.98 million for past and future economic loss, in addition to an initial A$850,000 payment awarded in April, court documents showed on Thursday.

Unexpected monarch in bagging area? Queen Elizabeth pops down to Sainsbury's

Britain's Queen Elizabeth popped down to the supermarket on Wednesday to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the British high street chain, Sainsbury's. The 93-year-old queen visited a pop-up replica of the original Sainsbury's shop which was founded on London's Drury Lane in 1869, selling just butter, milk and eggs.

Cannes darling Dolan says triumphs, mistakes have shaped him

At the ripe old age of 30, Canadian filmmaker Xavier Dolan is already a Cannes veteran after bursting onto the scene at the festival 10 years ago. This time he is vying for the top Palme d'Or prize award with "Matthias And Maxime", a tale of friendship, love and coming of age - which drew a broadly warm response after the ups and some downs of his recent outings.