Dawson's Creek star James Van Der Beek dies aged 48
Actor James Van Der Beek, best known for his starring role in US teen drama Dawson's Creek, has died aged 48 after being diagnosed with bowel cancer, BBC reported.
"Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning," his family said in a statement posted to his social media accounts. "He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace."
The star was diagnosed with the disease in the latter half of 2023 but only revealed the news in November 2024, according to BBC.
Britney Spears sells rights to entire music catalogue
Pop superstar Britney Spears has sold the rights to her entire music catalogue, the BBC has learned, BBC reported.
Spears, 44, is said to have sold to independent music publisher Primary Wave on 30 December for around $200m (£146m).
The singer - whose protracted conservatorship long dictated her personal and professional life - is known for the hits ...Baby One More Time, Oops!... I Did It Again, Toxic and Gimme More, according to BBC.
Brad Arnold of Grammy-nominated rock band 3 Doors Down dies aged 47
Brad Arnold, the lead singer of the Grammy-nominated rock band 3 Doors Down, has died, months after he announced that he had been diagnosed with stage 4 kidney cancer. He was 47, The Guardian reported.
The band said in a statement on Saturday that Arnold “passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, in his sleep after his courageous battle with cancer”.
3 Doors Down formed in Mississippi in 1995 and four years later received a Grammy nomination for the breakout hit Kryptonite. Arnold wrote the song in math class when he was 15 years old, according to the band statement, according to The Guardian.
Mexico President asks for more BTS shows
The rush for tickets to K-pop supergroup BTS’ comeback tour has sparked huge demand in Mexico, prompting President Claudia Sheinbaum to appeal to South Korea’s president to add more shows. BTS announced three concerts in Mexico City in May as part of its first world tour in four years.
Reuters reported, tickets sold out in under 40 minutes, with around one million fans competing for 150,000 seats. While official prices ranged from 1,800 to 17,800 pesos, resale platforms listed tickets at sharply inflated rates, leading to complaints over dynamic pricing.
Mexico’s consumer watchdog has sanctioned StubHub and Viagogo for abusive practices. BTS’ global tour will begin in South Korea in April and is expected to be one of the biggest of the year, with revenues projected to exceed $1bn.
