Sports clubs gearing up for return when coronavirus lockdown is eased

Maksim Chmerkovskiy is giving followers a personal update on the situation unfolding in Ukraine.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorBlackRock and Warner Music Group have invested $750 million, in partnership with Influence Media, to acquire music-rights catalogs from female and diverse artists, a source confirms to Variety.Rather than joining the fray pursuing catalogs of iconic, older white-male artists like Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and David Bowie, the female-led Influence, which was founded by Lylette Pizarro (formerly a partner at RPM GRP) and Lynn Hazan (formerly CFO and GM of Epic Records) is focusing on newer, active catalogs, and plans to work with the artists, which will retain a stake in their work.While companies like Hipgnosis Songs also have invested in what are called “shallow” (i.e. more recent) catalogs from contemporary hitmakers like Jeff Bhasker, this partnership has already invested $300 million in 20 catalogs, including Puerto Rican powerhouse songwriter-producer Tainy, known for his work with Bad Bunny, J Balvin, Rosalía, Shawn Mendes and Cardi B’s “I Like It.” The news was first reported in the Wall Street Journal.

Zack Sharf With news coming in that Russia was invading Ukraine, late-night hosts Seth Meyers and Jimmy Kimmel designated airtime to slamming Donald Trump and Fox News personalities for their defenses of Vladimir Putin. Meyers told viewers on “Late Night” that “the entire world is aghast and horrified” as Russia mobilizes against the Ukraine — well, everyone except Trump. Meyers then played a clip of Trump defending Putin and calling him a “genius” while being interviewed on “The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show.”“I went in yesterday and there was a television screen, and I said this is genius,” Trump is heard saying in the clip.

Promising actor Joseph Owen Wanders - who appeared in Coronation Street in 2018 - has died at the age of 27 after he "fell ill" in Costa Rica.An inquest heard how the late actor sadly passed away last month after he suffered a seizure while on holiday in the Caribbean.

Todd Spangler NY Digital EditorGoogle will no longer require U.S. staffers to be vaccinated against the coronavirus as a condition of employment, and it scaled back some COVID-safety restrictions as it expects more workers to return to the internet giant’s office in the coming weeks.Google is dropping the requirement that vaxxed U.S.

Marc Malkin Senior Film Awards, Events & Lifestyle EditorJust a couple of hours before Francis Ford Coppola arrived for a 50th anniversary celebration of “The Godfather” on the Paramount lot, the Academy announced that it had nixed the live presentation of Oscars for eight categories at this year’s Academy Awards.The legendary director hadn’t heard the news until he was on the red carpet. “All those [categories] are important,” he told me.

Ethan Shanfeld Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) will return in person this fall, welcoming local and international guests from Sept. 8 to 18.“We’re thrilled to share this news about TIFF 2022 and to introduce fresh voices to our programming team,” said Cameron Bailey, CEO of the festival.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentHulu has acquired U.S. rights to “Fireheart,” Anton’s ambitious animated family feature directed by Laurent Zeitoun (“Leap!”) and Theodore Ty (“Kung Fu Panda”) with a voice cast headlined by Olivia Cooke, William Shatner, Laurie Holden and Kenneth Branagh.The deal was negotiated with Hulu by CAA Media Finance and Anton’s Cécile Gaget on behalf of the producers. “Fireheart” will debut on Hulu’s streaming platform in the U.S.

Eurovision Song Contest bosses have told how the contest will accept acts from both Russia and Ukraine in May, despite Vladimir Putin ordering an invasion.Putin's ongoing assault on the country has been widely condemned by western leaders, with Boris Johnson describing it as a "catastrophe" for Europe.

Scotland's coronavirus reproduction rate is the joint second highest in the UK as the regional R numbers have been revealed for the first time.

Residents are being urged not to undo the good work of the last nine weeks of lockdown by flocking to Renfrewshire beauty spots this weekend.

Police are set to support an investigation into care home deaths in Scotland throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

SCOTLAND’S automotive industry chiefs have called on the Holyrood Government to allow the immediate reopening of dealerships.

Ayshire appears to be winning the battle against coronavirus as Scotland gets set for an easing of lockdown restrictions.

Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed Scotland will begin easing lockdown restrictions from tomorrow.

Nicola Sturgeon is expected to announce "cautious" steps out of lockdown for Scotland.

Easing of lockdown measures are set to come into play today (Thursday, May 28).

The secretary of Langlands Golf Club in East Kilbride has welcomed the easing of restrictions which could allow Tee-Offs as of this week.

A woman whose mum died with coronavirus in a care home claimed elderly people have been “written off” in the crisis.

Travelling short distances for outdoor leisure and exercise, teachers returning to schools and meeting people from another household outside – the beginning of the end of lockdown is set to begin tomorrow.

A majority of Scots back Nicola Sturgeon and her handling of the coronavirus crisis but have been less convinced by Boris Johnson during the pandemic, a new poll has found.