Tom Hanks pitches in on artificial-turf controversy

Plus, Miley Cyrus gig banned by Dominican Republic; film about Indira Gandhi’s killers blocked; Stallone aims to bring Expendables stars to Asia; and tributes pour in after death of Indian writer U R Ananthamurthy

Tom Hanks is against the use of artificial turf for the Women's World Cup in Canada. Paul Hackett / Reuters

Tom Hanks takes his football seriously – and when the Women's World Cup comes to Canada in 2015, he wants the games to be played on real grass pitches. The Captain Phillips actor is adding his voice to those protesting the proposed use of artificial turf at the six Canadian venues. On Friday, Hanks tweeted: "Opinion: Women's World Cup is the best Soccer of the year. Hey Fifa, they deserve real grass. Put in sod." Forty international players recently wrote to Fifa and the Canadian Soccer Association threatening legal action, saying that forcing women to play on artificial turf is discriminatory. In Toronto this month, the Fifa president Sepp Blatter praised the quality of modern artificial turf, but in their letter the players say the risk of injury is still greater than on real grass. Hanks is a fan of the English Premier League team Aston Villa. – AP

Miley gig banned by Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic government commission that oversees public performances has banned a concert by Miley Cyrus, which was planned for September 13 in the capital Santo Domingo, on morality grounds. The commission said it took action because the singer "undertakes acts that go against morals and customs, which are punishable by Dominican law". – AP

Film about Gandhi's killers blocked

India has blocked the release of a film about the assassination of the former prime minister Indira Gandhi, saying it could trigger violent protests. India's film certification board said Kaum De Heere, or Diamonds of the Community, glorified the Sikh bodyguards who killed Gandhi to avenge her suppression of an insurgency that culminated in an army assault on the Golden Temple, Sikhism's holiest shrine. The film was scheduled for release across northern India on Friday. The certification board chief, Leela Samson, said the panel members decided it posed a threat to public order. "The film is double trouble," she said. "It glorifies Indira Gandhi's assassins who took the law into their own hands and it glorifies the hanging of the two men." – AP

Stallone aims to bring Expendables stars to Asia

Sylvester Stallone hopes to film the next Expendables movie in Asia. The 68-year-old action star was in Macau at the weekend to promote the third instalment of the series. He was joined by his co-star Arnold Schwarzenegger and the pair received a hero's welcome in the casino town. Stallone drew loud cheers when he said the franchise would keep adding new stars and athletes. "They'll be from all parts of the world," he said. "Hopefully, we'll be able to film in Asia very soon." The Expendables movies follow a team of ageing mercenaries as they fight evil. – AP

Tributes pour in after death of Indian writer

The acclaimed Indian writer Udupi Rajagopalacharya Ananthamurthy, famed for his novels and poems, has died. The 82-year-old, who wrote in the southern regional language of Kannada, died in a hospital in Bangalore after his kidneys failed. Tributes poured in for the author, whose works were celebrated for their insight into human psychology and questioning of cultural and religious norms. Ananthamurthy courted controversy last year when he vowed to leave India if Narendra Modi became the prime minister. Modi, who won a landslide election victory in May, wrote on Twitter: "U.R. Ananthamurthy's demise is a loss to Kannada literature. My condolences to his family. May his soul rest in peace." – AFP