分类： entertainment

Emmy Award-winning comedian and actress Amy Schumer has publicly confirmed the dissolution of her seven-year marriage to chef Chris Fischer. The announcement was made via her official Instagram account, where Schumer characterized the separation as mutually respectful and entirely amicable.

In her carefully worded statement, Schumer emphasized the couple’s continued mutual affection and shared commitment to co-parenting their six-year-old son, Gene. ‘Chris and I have made the difficult decision to end our marriage after seven years,’ she wrote. ‘We love each other very much and will continue to focus on raising our son. We would appreciate people respecting our privacy at this time.’

The clarification comes after months of mounting speculation regarding marital difficulties between the couple. Schumer directly addressed circulating rumors by adding: ‘Amicable and all love and respect! Family forever.’

According to sources close to the former couple who spoke with People magazine, the separation process has been notably harmonious. ‘There’s nothing ugly. It’s a cohesive split. They’ve just been finalizing a few things,’ the insider revealed.

The relationship timeline shows Schumer and Fischer married in February 2018 after a relatively brief courtship, with their son born in May 2019. Earlier in November, sources indicated the couple had been working through ‘normal issues’ that long-term marriages commonly face, with both parties reportedly committed to resolving their differences.

Schumer had previously addressed the speculation directly on December 1st, dismissing theories connecting their marital status to her weight loss or Fischer’s autism diagnosis. ‘Whatever ends up happening with me and Chris has nothing to do with weight loss or autism. Fingers crossed we make it through. He’s the best,’ she stated at the time.

The former couple’s last joint public appearance occurred in June 2025 at the Tribeca Film Festival, marking what appears to have been their final red carpet appearance as a married couple.

NEW YORK — The literary world converged in Manhattan last week to celebrate Haruki Murakami, the renowned 76-year-old Japanese author, through a series of events blending music, literature, and cross-cultural recognition. The acclaimed novelist, a perennial contender for the Nobel Prize in Literature, received dual honors highlighting his profound impact on global fiction and US-Japan relations.

The Center for Fiction bestowed upon Murakami its prestigious Lifetime of Excellence in Award during a gala at Cipriani 25 Broadway. This distinction places him alongside previous recipients including Nobel laureates Toni Morrison and Kazuo Ishiguro. The ceremony featured a poignant tribute by legendary musician Patti Smith, who performed her ballad “Wing” and shared her personal connection to Murakami’s work, holding aloft his debut novel Hear the Wind Sing and reciting its iconic opening line about the imperfection of both writing and despair.

Two days later, the Japan Society co-hosted “Murakami Mixtape” at The Town Hall—a sold-out, bilingual celebration that merged literary readings with jazz performances. The event honored Murakami with its annual award recognizing individuals like Yoko Ono and Caroline Kennedy who have strengthened US-Japan ties. Jazz pianist Jason Moran, translator Motoyuki Shibata, and scholar Roland Kelts curated an evening that explored both Murakami’s famous works and lesser-known pieces, including the short story “The 1963/1982 Girl from Ipanema” and early essays about New York written before the author had ever visited.

The program delved into Murakami’s deep connection with jazz, which began in 1963 when he first heard Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers perform in Japan. This musical thread culminated in a special appearance by 88-year-old bassist Reggie Workman, the last surviving member of Blakey’s band, who joined Moran for an improvisational jam session.

Murakami himself reflected on his complex relationship with America, recalling his first visit in 1991 during a period of intense “Japan bashing” when protesters would encourage destroying Japanese cars. He described feeling culturally isolated during those early years, noting the absence of contemporary Japanese literature in American bookstores. However, he expressed optimism about Japan’s emerging cultural identity, celebrating how young Japanese creators across literature, film, and anime are now gaining international recognition—marking what he sees as Japan’s true cultural emergence despite economic challenges.

Peter Greene, the acclaimed character actor celebrated for his compelling performances in cinematic classics including ‘Pulp Fiction’ and ‘The Mask’, has died at the age of 60. His passing was confirmed on Friday, December 12th, after he was discovered deceased in his Lower East Side apartment in New York City.

Greene’s manager, Gregg Edwards, formally verified the tragic news in an official statement. The specific circumstances and cause of his death have not been publicly disclosed at this time.

The New Jersey-born performer launched his on-screen career with a 1990 guest spot on NBC’s crime series ‘Hardball’. His journey into feature films commenced two years later with a role in ‘Laws of Gravity’, sharing the screen with Edie Falco.

Greene’s breakthrough arrived in the mid-1990s with a series of iconic performances. He memorably portrayed the sinister antagonist Dorian Tyrell opposite Jim Carrey in the 1994 blockbuster ‘The Mask’. That same year, he delivered a powerful performance as Zed in Quentin Tarantino’s groundbreaking film ‘Pulp Fiction’.

His extensive filmography includes significant roles in ‘Clean Shaven’ (1993), ‘The Usual Suspects’ (1995), ‘Kiss & Tell’ (1997), ‘Blue Streak’ (1999), and the critically acclaimed drama ‘Training Day’ (2001) where he acted alongside Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke.

Beyond his film work, Greene established a substantial television presence with recurring roles in ‘The Black Donnellys’, ‘Life on Mars’, and ‘Chicago P.D.’. His most recent appearances included the John Wick prequel series ‘The Continental’ in 2023 and an episode of ‘Dope Thief’ earlier this year.

Peter Greene is survived by his sister and brother. The entertainment industry mourns the loss of a distinctive talent whose contributions to film and television left an indelible mark on popular culture.

The Liwa International Festival 2026 commenced with extraordinary fanfare as Dubai’s iconic Burj Khalifa was illuminated in vibrant red lights, signaling the start of the UAE’s premier winter carnival. This spectacular visual tribute on Friday evening marked the opening of the month-long festival running through January 3, 2026, in the Liwa area of Abu Dhabi’s Al Dhafra Region.

The inauguration ceremony witnessed the presence of esteemed dignitaries including Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region, and Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in Al Ain Region. The royal delegation conducted an extensive tour of the festival grounds, receiving detailed briefings about the diverse sporting tournaments, heritage exhibitions, and entertainment attractions comprising this year’s edition.

Liwa Village serves as the cultural epicenter of the festival, offering an immersive program blending traditional art forms, heritage experiences, and family-oriented activities. The opening ceremony featured an innovative multimedia spectacle combining synchronized sound, advanced lighting systems, laser projections, and drone formations, culminating in a breathtaking fireworks display that illuminated the Liwa desert sky. The UAE’s official aerobatic team, Al Fursan, delivered a special performance that added aerial drama to the celebrations.

Organized by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the festival represents a collaborative effort involving Liwa Sports Club, Al Dhafra Municipality, Abu Dhabi Police, and several other government entities.

The 2026 edition presents an exceptionally diverse program featuring motorsports competitions including speed races, dune driving challenges, freestyle demonstrations, sand racing, and UTV circuit races. Traditional sports enthusiasts can enjoy falconry championships, sand wrestling, and boxing matches, while adventure seekers can participate in the inaugural Extreme Mud Fest driving challenge.

Additional attractions include daily light shows, drone flight demonstrations, hot air balloon experiences, and weekend fireworks displays. The festival transforms into a premier New Year’s Eve destination with a special concert followed by fireworks and the Moreeb Dune Car Championship commencing on December 31st.

Liwa Village continues its celebration of Emirati heritage through traditional marketplaces, creative workshops, and family zones featuring water karting, carnival games, zip lines, and authentic culinary experiences. The festival solidifies Al Dhafra Region’s position as a leading destination for cultural tourism while attracting international audiences passionate about desert adventures, traditional sports, and speed racing.

Shanghai’s Museum of Art Pudong has inaugurated the largest-ever Louvre Museum exhibition presented in China, featuring an extraordinary collection of over 300 artifacts spanning four centuries of artistic heritage. The groundbreaking exhibition, titled ‘The Wonder of Patterns: Masterpieces from India, Iran and the Ottoman World from the Musée du Louvre,’ commenced on December 13, 2025, and will remain on display through May 6, 2026.

This monumental showcase traces its origins to four foundational pieces from the personal collection of France’s King Louis XIV, representing the historical depth and royal provenance of the exhibited works. The comprehensive exhibition presents a diverse array of artistic mediums including exquisite ceramics, intricate carpets, masterful paintings, opulent jewelry, and delicate glass artifacts, many of which are being displayed publicly for the first time.

The exhibition’s thematic focus on ‘patterns’ reveals the interconnected artistic dialogue between three great civilizations: the Mughal Dynasty of India, Iran’s Safavid Dynasty, and the expansive Ottoman Empire. While each civilization maintained distinct aesthetic traditions and cultural tastes, they shared a common visual language expressed through their decorative arts and pattern designs.

Curators emphasize the contemporary relevance of these historical artifacts, noting how modern audiences can identify the enduring influence of these classical patterns in contemporary high jewelry, architectural ornamentation, bookbinding techniques, and graphic design. The exhibition specifically aims to engage younger visitors by demonstrating the timeless modernity and dynamic vitality inherent in these traditional artistic expressions, bridging centuries of cultural exchange and artistic innovation.

The latest Bollywood espionage thriller ‘Dhurandhar’ has ignited both acclaim and controversy across South Asia, presenting a polarized reception to its intense portrayal of India-Pakistan tensions. Directed by Aditya Dhar and featuring Ranveer Singh as protagonist Hamza—an Indian intelligence operative infiltrating criminal networks in Karachi—the film merges high-stakes action with overt nationalist themes.

Since its theatrical release last week, the production has generated substantial box office success while simultaneously provoking heated discourse regarding its political messaging and historical interpretations. Dhar, who gained prominence with the 2019 military drama ‘Uri: The Surgical Strike,’ continues his exploration of nationalist cinema with this sophomore directorial effort.

The film’s narrative framework incorporates actual historical events, including archival footage from the 2001 Indian Parliament attack and the 2008 Mumbai terror incidents, weaving them into a fictional tapestry of gang warfare and cross-border espionage. Its visceral combat sequences and claustrophobic cinematography create an atmosphere of relentless tension, though some critics argue the violence borders on gratuitous.

Reactions have bifurcated sharply between those applauding the film’s technical execution and narrative ambition, and others condemning its perceived propagandistic elements. The Film Critics’ Guild issued an official statement decrying the targeted harassment of reviewers who expressed reservations about the production’s political undertones.

In Pakistan, responses have been equally divided. While Bollywood content remains technically banned since 2019, audiences continue accessing films through digital workarounds. Pakistani commentators have criticized the depiction of Karachi as a lawless territory and questioned the factual accuracy of linking local criminal organizations to cross-border terrorism. The Pakistan Peoples Party particularly objected to fictionalized rally scenes featuring imagery of assassinated leader Benazir Bhutto.

This controversy emerges within a broader trend of Indian nationalist cinema achieving commercial success while stimulating debate about historical representation. Films like ‘The Kashmir Files’ and ‘The Kerala Story’ have previously navigated similar tensions between entertainment and political messaging. As with those predecessors, ‘Dhurandhar’ demonstrates how cinematic narratives continue reflecting—and potentially shaping—complex geopolitical relationships in the region.