Irish singer Sinéad O’Connor has died at the age of 56 and tributes celebrating her life have poured in. Her death was announced on Wednesday (26 July) by her family in a brief statement. No cause of death was given. It read: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinéad. Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time.” The singer hailed from Dublin, Ireland, and rose to fame thanks to a global hit with the 1990 ballad Nothing Compares 2 U. Throughout her musical career, O’Connor was no stranger to controversy and famously shocked the US by ripping up a picture of Pope John Paul II during a 1992 appearance on the talk show Saturday Night Live in protest against child abuse in the Catholic Church. The news of her death stunned many, from the world of entertainment and beyond, and has led to an outpouring of heartfelt tributes for the musical icon. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter O’Connor’s death comes 18 months after that of her 17-year-old son Shane. In one of her last posts on social media, she said he was “the love of my life, the lamp of my soul”. She will be remembered not only for her singing voice but for her activism and bravery in opposing atrocities, even in the face of significant backlash. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

In the massive movie weekend of “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer,” there were many winners

We can't help you fulfill your ambitious New Year's resolution of reading a book every week. We can, however, help you give that ever-growing pile of (potentially unread) literature a chic, spacious, and affordable living space — aka, a best-selling, under-$100 bookcase.

A half-century after the original helped rewrite the rules of horror and launched a thousand imitators, "The Exorcist: Believer" tries picking up that mantle, with the lure of 90-year-old Ellen Burstyn reprising her role. The nostalgia factor elevates an otherwise slow-building film that maintains an eerie creepiness before fumbling through a slightly muddled climactic act.

Sure to draw additional attention because of questions surrounding Jamie Foxx's health, "They Cloned Tyrone" turns out to be buzzworthy on its own with its conspiracy-minded, sci-fi-tinged twist on who might really be pulling the strings in urban neighborhoods. Slow to start, the movie taps into a genre of "What's behind the curtain?" paranoia that's provocative, if a little slim on detail.

Scottish-Ghanaian architect Lesley Lokko is giving voices that have long been silenced a platform at this year’s Venice Architecture Biennale

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is ready to bring colorful displays to the New Mexico sky

If you want fast service from McDonald's, avoid going during the turn over from breakfast to lunch.

Sia and Dan Bernad exchanged sacred vows in the outdoor space under an iron gazebo

What better way to announce the new Fast & Furious film than an almost five-minute-long

In a recent post on social media, Joe Scarborough claimed that both parties need to get serious about the national debt

Joe Rogan and martial artist Daniel Cormier couldn't stop laughing after seeing Lewis in his underpants