Chinese Streamer iQiyi Seeks Funding as it Blocks Ukraine Coverage, Courts Controversy Over Korean Drama

Some of the world’s biggest stars are standing together to make a difference.

Chris Willman Music WriterGlobal Citizen has unveiled a list of entertainers and luminaries that includes more than 40 major music artists that will take part in an April campaign to urge governments to up their contributions toward supporting humanitarian efforts for Ukraine.Among those taking part in “Stand Up for Ukraine,” which is being described as a “social media rally,” will be Madonna, U2, Billie Eilish, the Weeknd, Radiohead, Luke Combs, Jon Batiste, Juanes, Garth Brooks, Billy Joel and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.The social media campaign will take place April 8-9, in advance of a “pledging summit” set to take place that second day, being spearheaded by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Other musicians getting involved with the push include Katy Perry, Kacey Musgraves, Celine Dion, Leon Bridges, Stevie Wonder, Green Day, Finneas, Stevie Nicks, Tame Impala, the Jonas Brothers, Usher, Elton John with David Furnish, Trisha Yearwood, Demi Lovato, Chris Isaak, Angélique Kidjo, Annie Lennox, Alejandro Sanz, Ryan Tedder, Ozzy Osbourne, Pearl Jam and Pharrell Williams.

Billy Bragg has criticised Ukrainian band Beton for their supposed far-right links, after they released a cover of The Clash’s ‘London’s Calling’.Last week, the Ukrainian punk band reworked The Clash’s iconic track to create ‘Kyiv Calling’, a protest song against the Russian invasion.Ukraine has officially severed diplomatic ties with Russia, and declared martial law, after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an attack on the neighbouring nation on February 24. Since then, The United Nations’ Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has estimated that the conflict has claimed 1,900 civilian casualties.

Duran Duran lit up the Capitol Records building in blue and yellow – the colours of the Ukrainian flag – and dedicated their 1992 song ‘Ordinary World’ to the people of Ukraine.The band performed to an intimate crowd of 250 – mostly friends, family and industry professionals – on the rooftop of the Aster nightclub on Thursday (March 17). Capitol Tower is in clear eyeshot of the Aster, and with Duran Duran having previously been signed to Capitol Records, it made a perfect backdrop for their message of solidarity with Ukraine.In a statement shared alongside a clip of the performance, bassist John Taylor said: “We are appealing to our fans in Russia to have an open heart and to support peace.

The British Red Cross is looking for volunteers to help raise funds for the increasing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine.

gathered together in Los Angeles and simultaneously in London on Sunday for the 2022 Critics Choice Awards, the ongoing war in Ukraine cast a looming shadow.As fans saw during this year's Screen Actors Guild Awards back in February, several stars addressed the ongoing conflict, and called for peace amid Russia's attack on Ukraine.From awards presenters using their time on stage to delivered a planned message of support to the words of unity shared by stars during their acceptance speeches, it was clear how prevalent the was was on the minds of those in attendance.Here's a look at some of the powerful messages shared by celebs throughout Sunday's awards gala.The Oscar-nominated Bulgarian actress Maria Bakalova — who earned widespread acclaim for her performance in 2020's took the stage early on during the show and shared a message of support for the people of Ukraine.«I am from Bulgaria, and my home city just a few hundred miles from Ukraine. So as we gather on this special night, I want to take a moment to acknowledge the bravery of the people of Ukraine, who are defending their right to Independence and democracy,» she shared.

Scotland stands ready to take 3,000 Ukrainian refugees “as an immediate step”, Nicola Sturgeon has said as she called on the UK government to accelerate the numbers allowed into the country.

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentIran’s government may support Russia’s of Ukraine, but the bulk of the country’s film community is outraged by the war — and some more openly than others.Prominent Iranian actor Hamid Farokhnezhad, best known internationally for starring in Asghar Farhadi’s “Fireworks,” has posted a video widely circulated on social media in which he denounces “the brutal attack of Russia against Ukraine.”Farokhnezhad (pictured above), in protest against the Russian invasion, expressed his wish in the video to return the best actor statuette he received from the Moscow Film Festival in 2005 for his role in anti-war drama “Big Drum Under Left Foot,” directed by Kazem Ma’asoumi.As Iranian multi-hyphenate Babak Karimi, speaking from Tehran, puts it, “Iran has experienced eight years of war with Iraq, which had similarities to the war in Ukraine.” “The memory of war is very much alive here,” he notes. “So it’s obvious that everyone is saying: ‘Here we go [again], this is going to last for years.'” Karimi, who is an actor, film editor and academic, won the Berlin Silver Bear in 2011 for playing the judge in Oscar-winning “A Separation,” and is a regular in Farhadi’s films.“There are some film personalities that are close to the government who support the war as a political stance, while from a human standpoint they are against it,” says Karimi.However, the vast majority of those in film circles “are fully against the war,” as is the case for Iran’s population at large.

Prince William is being quoted as having said two very different things with regard to the war in Ukraine right now, and it has caused a massive controversy.

A Stockport Labour councillor says he will withdraw his signature from a controversial Stop the War Coalition statement which accuses the UK of ‘sabre rattling’ over Ukraine.

Dua Lipa has offered her verdict on Oscar Isaac reading fan fiction about her on Saturday Night Live. While hosting Saturday’s episode (5 March), Dune star Isaac appeared in a sketch set in a fiction writing workshop. Isaac played a janitor named Michael who seemingly reluctantly joins the class, only to launch into a lengthy romantic story about him and Lipa.

Oprah Winfrey has her eyes on the ongoing battle in Ukraine.

Oscar Isaac is heading to for the first time, and he's bringing some of his famous character work and accents to the table.In promos released by NBC on Thursday, Isaac was joined by musical guest Charli XCX and castmember Aidy Bryant on the Studio 8H stage, and the actors were enchanted by the singer's English accent.«Yeah, I might try talkin' like you this week,» Bryant said, putting on an over-the-top, cartoonish cockney accent.«Oi, yeah! That'd be a crackin' good time, yeah!» Isaac added, affect an equally unrealistic caricature.«Guys, that's really not how I sound,» the singer shot back, trying to get them to just knock it off to no avail as the pair just switched to even more outlandish attempts at an impression.«Yeah, that's spot on. Well done,» and annoyed Charli said, giving up on trying to correct them as Isaac and Bryant high-fived excitedly.ET's Nischelle Turner spoke with Isaac on the red carpet at the 2022 Screen Actors Guild last Sunday and he opened up about making his hosting debut.«It's very nerve wracking, but I'm very excited about it though,» Isaac shared enthusiastically.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorStanley Tucci’s next trip to Italy will face a slight delay.CNN will bump the debuts of a handful of looming original documentary projects due to its ongoing coverage of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The second season of “Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy,” will premiere on CNN later in the spring, as will the new series “Nomad with Carlton McCoy.” Meanwhile, the WarnerMedia network will push back the debut of “Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain” to Sunday March 13 at 9 p.m., a week later than its previously scheduled March 6 launch.The network has built a new business out of documentaries and docuseries, but it must balance those projects with the demands of the news cycle.

Ukraine.The move against Echo Moskvy, one of Russia’s oldest radio stations, comes amid growing pressure on Russia’s independent media to follow the Kremlin's official line while covering the invasion of Ukraine.Officials also threatened to block Dozhd, Russia’s top independent TV channel.