Stairway to Heaven case heads to trial in the US

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  Pawan Singh / The National

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  Keystone / Getty Images

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  Chris Pizzello / Invision / AP File

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  AFP

A trial is needed to determine whether Led Zeppelin's Stairway to Heaven copied its opening notes from a song performed by the rock band Spirit, a judge has ruled. US district judge R Gary Klausner said lawyers for the trustee of late Spirit guitarist Randy Wolfe had shown enough evidence to support their case that Stairway to Heaven – one of the most famous rock songs – copied music from Spirit's song Taurus, which was written by Wolfe in 1966 or 1967. Led Zeppelin released the song in 1971. – AP

Salman Khan shares teaser for Sultan

The first look at Salman Khan's new movie Sultan, one of the most-anticipated films of this year, has taken Twitter by storm. On Monday night, Khan tweeted the poster of the film – to mixed reactions. While fans gushed over his physique in the poster, critics highlighted what they suggested was a poor Photoshop job – Khan's neck seemed to be missing. Yesterday, Khan, 50, also tweeted the teaser trailer for the film, in which he plays Sultan Ali Khan, a wrestler from Haryana. It shows him looking seriously ripped, rugged and mustachioed, grappling in the ring. Sultan is due for release on July 8. – Sonali Kokra

Zhivago notes sell for $77,500

Notes handwritten by Russian author Boris Pasternak for two chapters of his masterpiece Doctor Zhivago, along with a poem to his muse, sold at auction in New York on Monday for US$77,500 (Dh284,653). The manuscript, sold by auction house Bonhams, included a draft of the third and fourth chapters of the book, which was adapted into an Oscar-winning film. The poem was written to his lover, poet Olga Ivinskaya, who was the inspiration for the novel’s main character, Lara. Parts of the poem appear in the book, which is set against the backdrop of the Russian revolution in the early 20th century. The biggest price at Monday’s sale – $269,000 – was paid for a 48-page manuscript by British author Arthur Conan Doyle of Sherlock Holmes fame. – AFP

The Weeknd, Bieber earn Billboard Music Award nominations

R&B artist Weeknd is the leading nominee at this year's Billboard Music Awards, with 16 nods in categories such as top artist, top hot 100 song and top Billboard 200 album. Justin Bieber is next, with 11 nominations, including top artist and top male artist. Fetty Wap and Drake are each up for 10 awards. Drake will compete against himself in the top rap album category, with If You're Reading This It's Too Late and his collaboration with Future on What A Time To Be Alive. Adele and Taylor Swift are tied with eight nominations, including top artist, top female artist, top Billboard 200 artist and top Billboard 200 album – all of which Swift won last year. The Weeknd's Beauty Behind The Madness is up for the top Billboard 200 album against Adele's 25, Justin Bieber's Purpose, Ed Sheeran's X and Taylor Swift's 1989. The Weeknd, Bieber and Drake will compete against Adele and Swift for the top artist award. The show takes place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on May 22. – AP

Sanjay Dutt yet to see biopic script

Actor Sanjay Dutt, who was recently released from prison after serving three years for possessing an assault rifle at the time of the Bombay blasts of 1993, says he has not yet seen the script of a biopic about his life, set to be made by director Rajkumar Hirani. At the Fbb Femina Miss India finale red carpet, Dutt said: “Me and Rajkumar Hirani will make the film together. It will be a collaborative film from both of our productions houses. I have not seen the script yet, but I hope it will be a good one.” – IANS