Entertainment Shorts

Russia bans 100 Canadians, including Jim Carrey

MOSCOW (AP):

Russia’s foreign ministry announced on Monday that 100 Canadians have been added to the list of people banned from entering the country, in response to sanctions against Russia by Canada.

A ministry statement said author Margaret Atwood, actor Jim Carrey, and Amy Knight, a noted historian of the KGB, were on the banned list.

The ministry said they and the other 97, many of whom are connected to ethnic Ukrainian organisations, were banned because of involvement in the “formation of (Canada’s) aggressively anti-Russian course”.

Late John Aniston remembered as ‘most beautiful human’

Jennifer Aniston remembered her father, John Aniston, as “one of the most beautiful humans” she ever knew. The actress posted a tribute to him on Monday morning on Instagram, announcing that he had died on Friday, Veteran’s Day in the United States (US). John Aniston served in the US Navy.

The Emmy-winning star of the daytime soap opera Days of Our Lives was 89.

“Sweet papa… John Anthony Aniston,” Jennifer Aniston wrote. “I am so grateful that you went soaring into the heavens in peace – and without pain. And on 11/11 no less! You always had perfect timing. That number will forever hold an even greater meaning for me now.”

John Aniston was best known for his long-running role on Days of Our Lives as family patriarch Victor Kiriakis, the former drug lord who goes on to found the powerful Titan Industries.

Roberta Flack has ALS, now ‘impossible to sing’, rep says

NEW YORK (AP):

A representative for Roberta Flack announced on Monday that the Grammy-winning musician has ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, and can no longer sing.

The progressive disease “has made it impossible to sing and not easy to speak,” Flack’s manager, Suzanne Koga, said in a release. “But it will take a lot more than ALS to silence this icon.”

The announcement of the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis diagnosis comes just ahead of the premiere of Roberta, a feature-length documentary debuting Thursday at the DOCNYC film festival.

Flack is known for hits like Killing Me Softly With His Song and The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face.

The release says that the Grammy-winning singer and pianist, now 85, “plans to stay active in her musical and creative pursuits” through her eponymous foundation and other avenues.

Flack also plans to publish a children’s book co-written with Tonya Bolden.