Spring Festival Gala child star dies of Leukemia
Chinese Spring Festival Gala Star Deng Minghe has sadly died of leukemia at just eight-years-old.
In 2012, dressed in a traditional Chinese bellyband, he opened the Spring Festival Gala, singing a Chinese children's folk song.
He then rose to fame in China and was nicknamed as the "Spring Festival Fuwa," which means "Spring Festival Lucky Baby."
He also performed in the 2013 Spring Festival Gala, together with his sister.
Deng Minghe was diagnosed with leukemia in February, 2013.
Top Chinese stars lend their voice for free in "Nature is Speaking"
Some of China's top stars have lent their voices to a short film for free, for a series about the environment.
"Nature Is Speaking," a seven-episode short film, has just been released, with its Chinese voice cast that includes Jiang Wen, Ge You, Jiang Wenli, and Tang Wei.
Produced by Conservation International, a US-based nonprofit organization, the series uses natural scenery to reveal serious concerns about the way humans are treating the planet, from the viewpoints of characters including Mother Nature, the Ocean and the Rainforest.
Peter Seligmann, founder and CEO of Conservation International said he didn't want the film to be another production on environmental protection from the human perspective, but instead, have nature speak for itself.
The original series, which was voiced by Hollywood stars, including Harrison Ford, Edward Norton and Julia Roberts, was released by Conservation International in October and has attracted more than 2 billion views online.
Singer Joni Mitchell is "Not" in a coma
Contrary to recent reports, Canadian singer Joni Mitchell is not in a coma, according her official website.
The statement said, Joni is still in the hospital – but she comprehends, she's alert, and she has her full senses. A full recovery is expected.
Rumors have been circulating online that Mitchell is unconscious in the hospital and unable to make medical decisions for herself.
This came after the singers close friend, Leslie Morris, filed a petition on Tuesday to obtain cons-erv-a-torship over the Grammy-winning artist.
But Mitchell's website called the legal docs simply a formality "in the absence of 24-hour doctor care – to make care decisions for Joni once she leaves the hospital."
Her official diagnosis has still not been revealed. The 71-year-old was rushed to the hospital late last month after collapsing in her L.A. home.
Hundred of cinemas in Germany refuse to show "Avengers" film
Several hundred movie theatres in Germany have refused to screen the new "Avengers" film, in a dispute over rental fees with Disney.
686 theatres refused to show "Avengers: Age of Ultron," after a dispute over a decision to raise the rental fee for the movie to 53 percent of ticket sales, rather than the 47.7 percent usually charged to small town theatres.
Karl-Heinz Meier of I.G. Nord, a group representing cinema operators in Germany, said they would have been prepared to go to 50 percent. Adding that Disney will now have to go without 686 screens on which the film otherwise would have been shown.
This may not be a huge blow to the film's box office ratings, as "Avengers: Age of Ultron," has already been a smash at the international box office, taking over $200 million in its first weekend.
Chilean Mine Disaster Film 'The 33' Gets November Release Date
A movie about the 2010 Chilean mine disaster titled "The 33" is set for a November 13 release date via Warner Brothers.
Directed by Patricia Riggen, the drama stars Antonio Banderas, Juliette Binoche, Mario Casas, Lou Diamond Phillips, and James Brolin.
Producer Mike Medavoy developed the project in cooperation with the miners, their families and rescuers.
"33" tells the real-life story of the 33 Chilean miners who were trapped more than 200 stories underground for 69 days in 2010, following the collapse of the San Jose copper and gold mine.
The film, which was shot in real working mines in Colombia and Chile, recounts some of the emotional personal stories behind the gripping incident, which became a global broadcast news event, and is considered the longest underground survival story in history.