The pop star — real name Melanie Brown — filed for divorce on March 20, accusing Belafonte of physical and emotional abuse during the course of their 10-year marriage. She also claimed Belafonte threatened to publish explicit recordings of her.

As a result of the settlement, a hearing scheduled to be held in the Los Angeles Superior Court was set aside, and Judge Mark Juhas also cancelled a restraining order Mel B had against Belafonte.

According to Belafonte’s lawyer, Grace Jamra, the pair also reached an agreement regarding their daughter Madison, 6.

Meanwhile, they have three months to establish Belafonte’s visitation rights to Mel B’s 10-year-old daughter Angel, whose father is Eddie Murphy.

Mel B and her lawyers banned him from having contact with Angel and obtained a restraining order after the singer and “America’s Got Talent” judge accused him of being violent.

Belafonte claimed he had raised Angel since she was a baby and therefore could legitimately request access.

Mel B, 42, was present at Thursday’s hearing, but did not comment.

Portia de Rossi, the Arrested Development actress and wife of chat queen Ellen DeGeneres, accused the former martial arts expert and blues musician over an undated audition for a Seagal movie in his office.

“He told me how important it was to have chemistry off-screen as he sat me down and unzipped his leather pants,” the Australian-born actress tweeted late Wednesday.

“I ran out and called my agent. Unfazed, she replied, ‘well, I didn’t know if he was your type.'”

DeGeneres retweeted the post to her more than 75 million followers saying: “I’m proud of my wife.”

Seagal’s representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Actress Jenny McCarthy, who first accused Seagal in 1998, on Thursday revisited her encounter with the actor when auditioning for his 1995 movie “Under Siege 2” when he allegedly asked her twice to lower her dress.

Telling him she had been told there was no nudity, Seagal allegedly told her “there is off-camera nudity.” After she refused and ran to her car, McCarthy said he followed her outside and told her not to tell anyone “or else.”

“I thought about like, ‘I was the last girl that day. How many girls had to take off their clothes? How many girls had to do more?’ It just so grossed me out.”

– ‘Line gets crossed’ –

Seagal’s fame peaked in the late 1980s and early 1990s with films such as “Under Siege” and “Above the Law,” although he remains popular in eastern Europe.

He was last year accorded Russian and Serbian citizenship, personally collecting his Russian passport from President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin.

Julianna Margulies last week recounted an unpleasant encounter with the 65-year-old star, with whom she appeared in the 1991 movie “Out for Justice.”

Margulies, who later shot to fame for her role in 1990s hit series “ER” and more recently in “The Good Wife,” said a female casting director told her Seagal wanted to go over a scene with her in his New York hotel room at night.

Margulies, 23 years at the time, said that when she arrived she found the actor alone. “He made sure that I saw his gun, which I had never seen a gun in real life,” she told Sirius XM. “I got out of there unscathed,” she said.

In a New York Times expose published on Thursday, five women accused comedian Louis C.K. of masturbating or asking to masturbate in front of them or on the telephone in separate incidents dating from the late 1990s to 2005.

On Thursday, the premiere of his new movie “I Love You, Daddy,” was abruptly cancelled, and the award-winner canceled an appearance on CBS comedy chat show “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,” the Times reported.

C.K.’s publicist, Lewis Kay, told the paper that the comedian would not respond. “Louis is not going to answer any questions,” he was quoted as having emailed.

The comedian’s accusers told the paper that his behavior was abusive.

“I think the line gets crossed when you take all your clothes off and start masturbating,” said Julia Wolov, one half of the Chicago comedy duo who both accused him of misappropriate behavior in his hotel room after their late-night show.

“We have big ambitions for the ‘Star Wars’ franchise,” Disney chief executive Robert Iger said during a quarterly earnings call.

Disney just closed a deal with Rian Johnson, director of upcoming film “The Last Jedi,” to develop a brand new trilogy, according to Iger.

The Star Wars franchise has been “exceeding expectations” since Disney acquired LucasFilm five years ago, according to Iger.

Disney plans to launch “Star Wars” feature films in a new direct-to-consumer pay service that will offer “thousands of hours” of film and television content, he said.

Disney touted the box office success of two new “Star Wars” films and expressed confidence that “The Last Jedi,” set to debut in theaters next month, would be a hit.

“The excitement will only intensify as we get closer to the release date,” Iger said of the coming instalment.

– Going ‘Solo’ –

Production recently wrapped on a film based on the story of a “Han Solo” character, who was played by actor Harrison Ford in the original trilogy as well as in 2015’s “The Force Awakens,” according to Disney executives.

“Solo” is the second movie of a saga that unfolds on the sidelines of the adventures of the Skywalker family, the primary protagonists of the Star Wars universe. The first was “Rogue One,” which came out in 2016 and raked in more than $1 billion at the box office.

“We’ve got more great ‘Star Wars’ movies already planned for years to come in addition to the 2019 release of Episode IX,” Iger said, referring to the film that will follow “The Last Jedi.”

“Star Wars” has grown into the most lucrative and influential movie franchise of all time since the original film was released in 1977. It has become ingrained in a geek culture that gave rise to Silicon Valley and disruptive technologies.

Californian filmmaker George Lucas was 33 years old when he prepared to release his third feature — a far-fetched, slightly corny intergalactic saga of good and evil starring a sulky farm boy with daddy issues.

“I’m running out of hyperbolic adjectives to describe the power of ‘Star Wars,’ but that’s because it is the ultimate standard-bearer,” Shawn Robbins, chief analyst for BoxOffice.com, told AFP in an earlier interview marking the 40th anniversary of the original film.

“Four decades of record-breaking, genre-defining entertainment across film, television, video games, toys, books and everything else the brand has touched simply speaks for itself.”

– The Force is strong –

Lucasfilm debuted its highly-anticipated second trailer for “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” last month, hinting at dark times ahead for the Resistance and possibly even the end of Leia Organa, one of the main characters in the first three films who returned along with Han Solo in “The Force Awakens.”

The clip for the eighth installment in the blockbuster space opera, due for release on December 15, followed a trailer released in April which teased Luke Skywalker, the star of the original trilogy, teaching newcomer Rey the ways of the Force.

This time around more plot was unveiled, with Luke telling Rey he’d only seen power like hers once before — and while it didn’t scare him enough then, it does now.

Fans speculated on social media that he could be talking about his nephew and Rey’s nemesis Kylo Ren, who is seen in a TIE fighter with his mother General Leia Organa in his sights, his eyes welling up as he prepares to open fire.

Carrie Fisher — who has played the character since she was known simply as Princess Leia in the original 1977-83 trilogy — died in December, having already wrapped her scenes for “The Last Jedi.”

“The Last Jedi” — filmed on the west coast of Ireland and at Pinewood Studios near London — sees the return of the characters introduced in 2015’s seventh installment.

Spacey’s career is in free fall over sexual assault allegations, the latest of which emerged earlier Wednesday.

“Plummer will swap for Spacey,” as the crew race to reshoot scenes from the film which Sony’s TriStar still plans to release on December 22, the source said.

“They are committed to the 12/22 date — if anyone can pull it off it’s Scott,” the source added, asking for anonymity.

Plummer will now play US millionaire J. Paul Getty in the story about the 1973 kidnapping of his teenage grandson John Paul Getty III.

A Massachusetts mother on Wednesday accused Spacey of sexually assaulting her 18-year-old son on the holiday island of Nantucket last year and said police had opened a criminal investigation.

Police could not confirm or deny any such report was filed but the woman’s accusation is the latest against Spacey, who was dropped last week by Netflix.

He was its star actor in the hit series “House of Cards.”

According to British media, London police are investigating Spacey for an alleged assault in 2008.

He has also been publicly accused of attempting to rape a 15-year-old boy in New York and of making advances on actor Anthony Rapp when he was 14 years old, more than three decades ago.

Quest begins the program by speaking with Thai Tourism Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul about her country’s recent shift in its tourism strategy, emphasising “quality” rather than “quantity”.

“We believe that the true success of tourism of our country is the people. At the end of the day, Thailand will always be your second home. The Land of Smiles is the spirit, it is the people,” says Kobkarn in the programme.

Thirty million is Thailand’s magic number. That’s how many tourists visited Thailand in 2016 and that number just keeps growing. Representing US$50 billion in revenue, just over 12 per cent of the country’s GDP, Thailand’s tourism industry ranks third behind the United States and Spain in terms of income.

Quest then heads to school to learn what makes Thai hospitality so unique when he visits the Dusit Thani College. The Dusit Thani was actually Bangkok’s first five-star hotel and opened in 1970, so Quest sits down with group CEO Suphajee Suthumpun to learn about the famed hotel’s plans for renovation while the brand also expands abroad.

“We are proud of our Thai heritage that uniquely delivering gracious hospitality to the world and that’s always my goal,” explained Suphajee. “I not only want to expand our hotel footprint to other countries around the world, but I’d also like to be the ambassador of gracious Thai hospitality.”

CNN also meets one of the new kids on the block, the Park Hyatt, as the brand comes to Thailand for the first time. A key to Thailand’s new tourism strategy will be attracting more meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibition travellers. Quest sits down with TCEB President, Chiruit Isarangkun to hear how Thailand plans to woo these highly prized visitors.

It’s then time to head north to Chiang Mai. CNN Business Traveller explores how low-cost carrier Nok Air is dealing with all the competition in the sky then experiences how the city in the mountains is charming tourists away from big cities and beaches when he visits the Elephant Nature Park for an unforgettable day. When it’s time to settle in for the night, he heads to 137 Pillars to learn how this boutique approach to luxury is key to Thailand’s future.

Boutique travel is also translating to the skies, so CNN Business Traveller flies back on Bangkok Airways to see how this has been good for business.

And finally, learn why sustainable tourism is vital to the country when CNN visits the quaint Kudeejeen community with the travel company, Local Alike. Growing up in a village, the company’s founder Pai Boonkam explains why he’s dedicated to making sure Thailand’s tourism success is shared with everyone.

The programme will also air tomorrow at 11.30am, on November 11 at 12.30pm as well as on December 10, 11 and 12 at 8.30pm, 12.30pm and 11am respectively.

The video link can be found at http://cnn.it/2h9b6l6

TrueVisions and Fox Thailand jointly promoted the broadcast that will begin on November 13 when four episodes will be aired at once as Thailand was three episodes behind the US this year.

The Walking Dead Season 8 will be aired at 8pm every Monday on Fox Thai at Channel 246 of TrueVisions’ Platinum HD and Gold HD packages.

For as long as film fans can remember, the Tokyo International Film Festival has appointed one Japanese star to be the festival’s muse. This year, in celebration of its 30th anniversary, it took the tradition one step further by selecting four actresses, each an icon of new Japanese cinema, to serve as its muses.

The four actresses were Sakura Ando, whose 2014 film “100 Yen Love” was Japan’s submission to the Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film, Yu Aoi, who is well-known for her role in Shunji Iwai’s “Hana and Alice”, Hikari Matsushima, who stars in Sion Sono’s “Love Exposure”, and Aoi Miyazaki, who is best known for her role in the film “Nana”.

The ladies joined up to present their past works in a special programme called ‘The Muses of Japanese Cinema Screenings’

“I was surprised but really happy to receive this honour,” said Yu Aoi of her selection. She was just 16 when she made her debut in film, starring in Shunji Iwai’s teenage drama “All About Lily Chou-Chou” but it was her portrayal of Alice in Iwai’s 2004 hit “Hana and Alice” that shot her to fame. The festival saw Aoi reuniting with her costar Anne Suzuki and director Iwai in presenting the teen romance.

“For Shunji Iwai, I was still a child when I was shooting his film,” said the 31-year-old with a smile. “When we were doing a shot from a long way away, I would have an earphone in my ear, and he would use the transceiver to direct me.”

Aoi became a big star after “Hana and Alice” and was soon working with other big name directors, among them Lee Sang-Il in “Hula Girls”, which won many awards in its home country and was released in Thailand in 2006. She also appeared in Katsuhiro Otomo’s “Mushishi” (2007), Yoji Yamada’s “About Her Brother” (2010), Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s “Journey to the Shore” (2015), Nobuhiro Yamashita’s “Over The Fence” (2016) and Daigo Matsui’s “Japanese Girls Never Die”.

And with almost two decades of experience to her credit, Aoi has learned how to work with each director.

“Lee Sang-Il is a kind of director who really pushes the actor hard, pushing and pushing and pushing until I can’t really speak anymore and my ego is no longer at the forefront. Only after he gets all the extra things he wants from me, will he say that it’s okay. Director Nobuhiro Yamashita has a very different style. Unlike Lee Sang-Il who pushes the actors with words, Yamashita doesn’t say much. Because of that, all the actors worry that they aren’t doing what he wants but that anxiety goes away when he says it is okay.”

Just like in other parts of the world, females are very much in the minority in the Japanese film industry.

“In the film world, there are more men than women and the more I perform, the more like a man I feel inside. That might sound strange as I always play a feminine character, but deep inside, I feel that I am a man.”

Very early in her career, Aoi starred in Akihiko Shiota’s “Harmful Insect”, which featured Aoi Miyazaki in the lead role. The film was presented at Venice Film Festival in 2002 and brought fame to Miyazaki though it wasn’t until “Nana”, based on a manga, that she become known all over Asia.

Miyazaki presented her first feature film “Eureka” at the festival, in which she stars with her real-life brother Masaru and actor Koji Yakusho. The film by Shinji Aoyama, which was screened in competition at Cannes Film Festival in 2000, runs for 218 minutes and is shot almost entirely in sepia tones.

“I was in 14 years old at that time,” Miyazaki says. “I remember coming to the casting for ‘Eureka’ and going into the meeting room. It was first time I had been away from my parents for a whole month and among a group of adults. It was fun. I went with my brother, Koji and the director to a bar where we ate cabbage salad. I have many memories like that.”

Since then Miyazaki has appeared in almost 50 films and one of most recent, Lee SangIl’s “Rage” which was screened at Toronto International Film Festival in 2015 was also shown in the special programme of Tokyo International Film Festival this year. In the film, Miyazaki plays a young woman dating a mysterious boy who could be a serial killer.

“I am turning 32, but age is just a number. I don’t think much about what’s happening next, and I can’t turn back time. I am thinking about what I can do in my thirties. Recently I’ve been thinking that I want to do more challenging things or do something that I haven’t done before,” says the young actress as she looks ahead to her career.

With the screening of a mammoth 231 films in total, and the attendance of 60,000 film fans during 10 days, the 30th Tokyo International Film Festival wrapped at the weekend after once again showing why it is such a great platform for presenting Japanese and world cinema.

How big was the film’s three-day opening? Well, the latest “Thor” episode, boosted by strong reviews and the self-mocking humor of Chris Hemsworth as the powerful Norse god (with Cate Blanchett as Hela, goddess of death), netted more than seven times the take of last week’s leader, Lionsgate’s “Jigsaw.”

That movie, which has police investigating a string of horrific murders carried out in the style of supposedly long-dead killer Jigsaw, dropped this weekend to third place at $6.7 million, according to website Exhibitor Relations.

In second was “A Bad Mom’s Christmas,” from STX Entertainment, at $17 million. That comedy stars three women — Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell and Kathryn Hahn — whose plans change when their mothers (Christine Baranski, Cheryl Hines and Susan Sarandon) drop in unexpectedly for the holidays.

In fourth position was Lionsgate’s “Boo 2! A Madea Halloween” at $4.7 million. The light comedy has actor/director Tyler Perry and buddies heading to a campground which — surprise! — turns out to be haunted.

In fifth spot was “Geostorm” from Warner Bros., at $3 million. The sci-fi disaster thriller follows Gerard Butler as he struggles to save the world from an apocalyptic storm caused by climate-controlling satellites run amok.

Rounding out the top 10 were:

“Happy Death Day” ($2.8 million)

“Thank You for Your Service” ($2.3 million)

“Blade Runner: 2049” ($2.2 million)

“Let There Be Light” ($2.2 million)

“Only the Brave” ($1.9 million)

The fourpart documentary, which follows the trials and aftermath of India’s biggest murder mystery, became one of India’s biggest murder mysteries, capturing worldwide attention.

The documentary begins with Drs Rajesh and Nupur Talwar on the morning of May 16, 2008, discovering their daughter, Aarushi, lying dead in her bed, bludgeoned and with her throat cut.

Their Nepali servant, Hemraj Banjade, is missing and believed to be the culprit until his bloated and battered body is discovered on the apartment roof terrace. There were seemingly just the four people in the apartment that night and only two of them are still alive.

To the police investigation teams leading the inquiry, the parents must be the murderers, but after nine years, three investigations, a trial and appeal, and now an acquittal, nothing is as it seems. In English and Hindi with English subtitles, the documentary features neverbeforeseen exclusive interviews with Aarushi’s parents and speaks with those most closely involved in this twisted tale of intrigue.

“The Talwars: Behind Closed Door” is HBO Asia’s first original documentary.

From a melodramatic story edited down from 10,000 hours of surveillance videos (“Dragonfly Eyes” by Chinese filmmaker Xu Bing); to a high-wire sociological suspense (“The Square” by Swedish director Ruben Ostlund which won the Palme d’Or at this year’s Cannes Film Festival), and a female-driven journey of vengeance and justice (“Marlina The Murderer in Four Acts” by Indonesian director Mouly Surya), the festival promises to be an immersive journey of unconventional storytelling and striking cinematography, with something for everyone.

Dark comedy “The Great Buddha+” by Taiwanese filmmaker Huang Hsin-Yao will be competing in the Asian Feature Film Competition, as part of the Silver Screen Awards. Receiving nominations in ten categories of the Golden Horse Awards, the film follows two working class friends who discover the dark secret of their millionaire boss, and reveals the tragic making of contemporary Taiwanese society.

“The demand for quality content has never been greater. Over the last year, we have witnessed bold experimentation from film auteurs to showcase diversity in storylines, genres and styles, as they push the envelope in filmmaking. Staying true to our role as a vital focal point to uncover these gems and boundary-pushing creativity, this year’s Festival line-up provides an insight into the talent that permeates the region and showcases the promise of the industry here in Asia,” said SGIFF programme director Pimpaka Towira.

In addition to the recently announced opening film, “Angels Wear White” by Vivian Qu, film-goers can also look forward to 112 films across various genres and presentations during the 11-day festival. An example is one of SGIFF’s three Special Presentation films – “Oh Lucy!” by Japanese first-time features filmmaker Atsuko Hirayanagi and starring award-winning Japanese actress Shinobu Terajima and “Black Hawk Down” leading actor Josh Hartnett. A quirky portrait of a lonely Tokyo woman who follows her English teacher to California, the feature film was expanded from Hirayanagi’s award-winning short of the same title, and evokes genuine emotional poignancy as it explores identity and isolation in this age of decreasing human interaction.

Another debut feature is Malaysian filmmaker Tan Seng Kiat’s “Shuttle Life” which stars Taiwanese actress-director Sylvia Chang and pop singer and actor Jack Tan and will compete in this year’s Silver Screen Awards’ Asian Feature Film Competition. The hard-hitting social drama stands out with its uncompromising realism. It displays the life and complex humanity of the underclass in Malaysia, represented by the male protagonist who faces the destruction of the family he struggles to support. Premiered at the Shanghai Film Festival early this year, it swept the top prizes in three categories – best film, best cinematography and best actor for Tan at the hotly contested Asian New Talent Awards.

Films presented by Singapore filmmakers also stand out with their remarkable sensitivity and nuance in storytelling. Inspired by a real-life story in Japan, Wesley Leon Aroozoo will present his first full-length documentary “I Want to Go Home” that takes on a gentle direction in depicting one’s emotions with the loss of a loved one. One of 10 entries shortlisted to compete in Busan International Film Festival’s Wide Angle Documentary Competition, the film follows the journey of a man’s determination to reunite with his wife after the Great East Japan earthquake to fulfill her final wish.

Others drew inspiration from the diverse stories amidst us. One of Singapore’s pioneer female filmmakers, Wee Li Lin will present her latest short “Areola Borealis” that features an uptight mother who tries to upstage her daughter’s untraditional wedding. This year’s Festival Commission “Nyi Ma Lay” by Chiang Wei Liang also questions and raises awareness on social issues that plague society by drawing viewers into the psyche of domestic workers who suffer from emotional abuse.

The 28th SGIFF, which runs from November 23 to December 3, will take place across various venues, including Marina Bay Sands, Shaw Theatres Lido, National Museum of Singapore, National Gallery Singapore, The Arts House, Filmgarde Bugis+, Objectifs and SCAPE.