Marvin Hamlisch, the composer behind a string of Broadway and Hollywood hits including "A Chorus Line," "The Way We Were" and "The Sting," has died, his publicist said Tuesday. He was 68.

"He died last night in Los Angeles," Ray Costa told Agence France Presse, adding that Hamlisch had been admitted to hospital in suburban Burbank last week. He did not disclose the cause of death.

Recording label EMI Classics said Tuesday it is releasing a compilation of classical music that inspired the author of the erotic "Fifty Shades of Grey" trilogy.

In a statement, it said the 15-track album of pieces referenced in EL James' best-sellers will be available in North America digitally from August 21 and in CD format on September 18.

Antoine of Paris, the world's first celebrity hairdresser who revolutionized the look of women in the early 20th century with a boyish bob, was in fact a Pole.

Antoni Cierplikowski was better known as "Monsieur Antoine" in his adopted city where he created the cut made famous by Coco Chanel and other fashion icons of the times.

Singer-actress Jennifer Lopez has filed a $20 million lawsuit against a former driver whom she claims threatened to spill her secrets if she did not pay him $2.8 million, court records showed Tuesday.

Lopez, 42, maintains that Hakob Manoukian, who was in charge of her security and transportation, engaged in extortion, attempted extortion and conspiracy.

Elton John has reignited his public spat with Madonna, calling her a "fairground stripper" whose career is over.

The British star added that she had been "so horrible" to pop diva Lady Gaga, the godmother to his son Zachary.

An Alawite film director was assassinated near his home on the outskirts of Damascus, Syria's General Cinema Institute said on Tuesday.

"Treacherous hands assassinated" Bassam Mohieddin on Sunday, the institute said in a statement, adding the killing took place in Jdaidet Artuz, scene of recent clashes between troops and rebels.

The legendary name of folk music Bob Dylan composed a song for his upcoming album ''Tempest'' about the Titanic movie and referred to famous actor Leonardo DiCaprio in the lyrics.

Dylan said that the song about Titanic was 13 minutes long during an interview with Rolling Stone magazine.

Guitar-maker Gibson has agreed to pay $350,000 to avoid U.S. prosecution over allegations it illegally imported endangered wood from India and Madagascar, U.S. officials announced Monday.

"Gibson has acknowledged that it failed to act on information that the Madagascar ebony it was purchasing may have violated laws intended to limit over-harvesting and conserve valuable wood species," Assistant Attorney General Ignacia Moreno said in a statement.

U.S. actress Natalie Portman has married French dancer Benjamin Millepied, her partner of two years and the father of her 14-month-old son, People magazine reported Monday.

The traditional Jewish wedding was held Saturday evening in the Big Sur coastal resort, some 390 kilometers (240 miles) northwest of Los Angeles, according to the magazine.

Madonna voiced hope Monday that three feminist Russian rockers on trial for performing a "punk prayer" against Vladimir Putin will be released soon.

"Obviously I believe in freedom of speech and I'm against censorship, so I hope that the judge is lenient with them and that they are freed soon," the pop star told The Associated Press during a concert tour of Russia.