David Bowie reconquered his home charts this week by scoring his first number one album in 20 years with The Next Day. Bowie surprised the music world by breaking a decade-long musical silence in January when he unveiled a new single, entitled Where Are We Now?, to coincide with his 66th birthday. The single was taken off The Next Day, which this week became Britain's fastest-selling album of the year, said the Official Charts Company. The last time Bowie topped the charts was in 1993 with Black Tie White Noise. – AP
Beyoncé debuts her
new track
Beyoncé posted her first new solo material in two years, titled Bow Down / I Been On, on her SoundCloud account on Sunday. "I took my time to live my life, but don't think I'm just his little wife / Don't get it twisted, get it twisted," she sings, referencing having taken time off from her music career. The track is produced by Hit-Boy, who recently worked with the singer's husband Jay-Z. On Instagram, Beyoncé promoted her new tune by posting an image of her preteen self wearing a crown and a dress, accompanied by the text "Bow Down". – The National staff
Yeoh honoured at Asian Film Awards
Michelle Yeoh is happy to be honoured with the Excellence in Asian Cinema Award but says she hopes there's no hidden message. She told reporters: "I hope it's not their way of telling me that I need to retire." The star of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and last year's Aung San Suu Kyi biopic The Lady was honoured at the Asian Film Awards in Hong Kong on Monday. Yeoh also acknowledged she's long heard rumours of a Crouching Tiger sequel, but says she's yet to see a script. The 2000 film was directed by Ang Lee and won four Oscars. The festival ends with the Iranian film Closed Curtain, fresh off a win for Best Script at the Berlin International Film Festival. – AP
Hasselhoff joins Berlin Wall campaign
David Hasselhoff has joined a campaign to preserve one of the few remaining sections of the Berlin Wall, calling it a "sacred" monument and prompting cheers on Sunday from Germans who fondly remember his schmaltzy hit Looking for Freedom as one of the soundtracks to their peaceful 1989 revolution. The actor joined Berliners in protesting a real estate developer's plans to move part of the wall to make way for an access path for a luxury housing development. "It's like tearing down an Indian burial ground. It's a no-brainer," said Hasselhoff. "It's about people and it's about hearts that were broken – not a piece of real estate." – AP
Tina Fey says she won’t take over SNL
After saying she has no plans to host the Oscars, Tina Fey shot down the idea of running the sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live when its creator Lorne Michaels retires. She told the Huffington Post: "I feel like SNL is so defined by Lorne's taste and his sensibility. He is the centre of that show, and I think when he wants to stop, it should just stop." Fey will star opposite Paul Rudd in Paul Weitz's forthcoming comedy Admission. – IANS
