Online series House of Cards comes by trumps by making Emmy history

Plus: Saif Ali Khan to host Durban awards; Kanye West scuffles with paparazzi; Shukla to direct comic thriller with Warsi; Jay Z tops Billboard album chart

Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright in House of Cards, which is the first online series to be nominated for an Emmy for best drama series, in addition to eight other nominations. Netflix

Internet shows its muscle by making Emmy history

The Emmy Awards are television's biggest celebration of itself, but this year's ceremony will face an intruder: House of Cards, the first online series to nab a top nomination for best drama series. The nomination, one of nine nods earned by the political thriller, is a marker in the unfolding revolution in how audiences receive and watch video entertainment. Kevin Spacey, the nominated star of the political drama, revelled in its role as a groundbreaker. "It's really, in many ways, kind of a new paradigm," he said. The other top nominees include Game of Thrones, Saturday Night Live, 30 Rock and Modern Family. The ceremony, hosted by Neil Patrick Harris, will be held on September 22. – AP

Saif Ali Khan to host Durban awards

The Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan will host the South Africa India Film and Television Awards (SAIFTA) in Durban on September 6. The announcement was made at a curtain-raiser for the awards ceremony held this week in Mumbai. The event aims to honour performers in both countries. It also aims to create a cultural exchange between the entertainment industries of South Africa and India. Celebrities from both nations will be on the judging panel, including Indian celebrities such as Waheeda Rehman, Mukesh Bhatt, Boman Irani, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and Farah Khan. – The National staff

Kanye West scuffles with paparazzi

Police were investigating a scuffle on Friday between Kanye West and a cameraman at Los Angeles International Airport. TMZ posted a video of the tussle, showing West being thronged by cameras while trying to get into a white Mercedes Benz waiting kerbside. As flashbulbs illuminate his face, West accuses the paparazzi of trying to provoke him. He then lunges at a photographer's camera and tries to wrestle it away. West has had similar run-ins with paparazzi at Los Angeles airport before, trading barbs with photographers who follow his every move. – AP

Shukla to direct comic thriller with Warsi

The filmmaker Umesh Shukla is to co-direct a new film with the Marathi writer, director and actor Girish Joshi. The yet-to-be-titled film will feature Arshad Warsi in the lead role, while Paresh Rawal has reportedly also been approached to play a part. It has been written by Bhavesh Mandalia, who was highly praised for his script for the 2012 comedy-drama OMG – Oh My God!, which was also directed by Shukla. "I'm very excited about the project. While I share a great comfort level with Bhavesh Mandalia, I look forward to working with Arshad Warsi, who in my opinion is extremely talented," said Shukla. – IANS

Jay Z tops Billboard album chart

Jay Z's latest album Magna Carta... Holy Grail debuted at the top of the Billboard 200 album chart this week. It is the rapper's 13th No 1 album, the most by a solo artist in the chart's history. The R&B singer Ciara was second on the weekly chart with her self-titled album, which was in its first week. Last week's top album, J Cole's Born Sinner, fell to third. The country group Florida Georgia Line's Here's to the Good Times rose one spot to No 4 and the rockers Imagine Dragons' Night Visions, fell a spot to No 5. – Reuters

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