Regional singers to perform at F1

Plus: JLo to sing at World Cup; Sigourney Weaver confirmed for Avatar sequels; Abhishek Chaubey to direct Shahid Kapoor in sci-fi flick; FX says Tracy Morgan’s show waiting for him; trailer for LeBron’s sitcom released; Inder Kumar released on bail; Sarah Brightman plans flight to space station.

The Palestinian singer Mohammed Assaf. Alexandre Schneider / Getty Images

Flash Entertainment has announced the first line-up for the Yasalam 2014 After-Race Concerts. Performing on Thursday, November 20, are the Egyptian crooner Tamer Hosny, the Lebanese songstress Carole Samaha, the Dubai-based singer Fayez Al Saeed and the Palestinian singer Mohammed Assaf. The concerts are exclusively for F1 ticket holders, who each receive a pair of complimentary invitations to Thursday night's concert. The performers for Friday, Saturday and Sunday are expected to be announced in the coming months. F1 tickets can be purchased at www.yasmarinacircuit.com. – The National staff

JLo to sing at World Cup

Jennifer Lopez is performing at the World Cup after all. JLo told reporters on June 10 that she was flying to Brazil to perform at the tournament's June 12 opening ceremony. "I'm coming. I leave tonight. We always were going," she said. "I think people get anxious, especially with me and my schedule when I'm like: 'Ah, OK, I can leave this day, that day, I don't know if we can make it.' But we are definitely going." Fifa officials announced earlier this week that the singer wouldn't perform the official tune We Are One (Ole Ola) alongside Pitbull and Claudia Leitte. But Lopez said they will perform before Brazil takes on Croatia at the opening game in São Paulo. – AP

Weaver confirmed for Avatar sequels

Sigourney Weaver will return for the three Avatar sequels scheduled to begin shooting later this year. James Cameron made the announcement to Deadline, saying: "Sigourney and I have a long creative history, dating back to 1985 when we made Aliens. We're good friends who've always worked well together, so it just feels right that she's coming back for the Avatar sequels." Cameron said that Weaver will play a new role, since her original character died in the first film, but did not provide any details. Weaver joins previously announced cast returnees Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana and Stephen Lang. – The National staff

Abhishek Chaubey to direct Shahid Kapoor in sci-fi flick

The director Abhishek Chaubey has announced that his next film is titled Udta Punjab and will feature a sci-fi plot. Chaubey revealed he has already cast Shahid Kapoor to play the lead role. "I have wri­tten the script. I have met Shahid and we are figuring out things," said Chaubey. "As Shahid is busy, dates are not locked yet." Chaubey also said he's trying to get Priyanka Chopra to play the female lead. If all goes to plan, it'll be Kapoor and Chopra's third film together, after 2009's Kaminey and 2012's Teri Meri Kahaani. – IANS

FX: Morgan’s show waiting for him

FX Networks says that Tracy Morgan's new series is waiting for him once he's well, but that his recovery is all that matters now. Tuesday's statement updates the status of the television project planned for the comic who was critically injured in a motorway crash on June 7 in New Jersey. Morgan's recovery is expected to take weeks. The company says that whenever he decides he is ready to work, "his show will be waiting for him". His half-hour comedy was scheduled to start filming in August for a January premiere on the FXX network. – AP

Trailer for LeBron’s sitcom released

The American basketball star LeBron James's sitcom is closer to becoming reality. The television network Starz has released the official trailer for Survivor's Remorse on JUne 10, not long before James and the Miami Heat took on the San Antonio Spurs in Game 3 of the NBA Finals. James is an executive producer of the show, which tells the story of a basketball phenomenon who turns pro. – AP

Inder Kumar released on bail

The Bollywood actor Inder Kumar, who was arrested in April on charges of assault and rape, was released on bail from a New Delhi prison on JUne 10. "The police could not find any evidence against him and he was granted bail," said Kumar's manager. The 40-year-old actor, whose most recent movie was 2011's Yeh Dooriyan, was arrested in April after a 23-year-old woman accused him of rape and assault. – IANS

Sarah Brightman plans flight to space station

The British singer Sarah Brightman is scheduled to begin training this year for a 2015 flight to the International Space Station. The famed soprano, who performed in Dubai in February, will pay about US$52 million (Dh191m) for a 10-day stay aboard the orbital outpost, according to Space Adventures, a privately owned space tourism company. Brightman, who would become the eighth privately funded space tourist, is scheduled to fly in September 2015. She plans to be the first professional musician to sing from space, but faces competition from Lady Gaga, who plans to perform in space in 2015 on a Virgin Galactic flight. – Reuters