Arts and entertainment reports from The Times, national and international news services and the nation’s press.

POP/ROCK

‘Pop’ Music: At a press conference held Wednesday in the lingerie department of a Kmart store in Manhattan, U2 announced details of a yearlong tour that will take the band around the world, including a stop June 21 at the Los Angeles Coliseum. The “PopMart” tour--which follows the release on March 4 of the band’s new album, “Pop”--kicks off April 25 at the Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas and will include performances April 28 at the Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego and June 18 at the Oakland Coliseum. MTV and VH1 will sell tickets to selected dates, including Los Angeles, through a special (800) number that will be aired on the channels starting Friday at 5 p.m. Remaining tickets for the L.A. date will go on sale ($52.50 and $37.50, cash only) Saturday at 9 a.m. at the Sports Arena (no service charge) and through Ticketmaster. (No lineups prior to 7 a.m.) There is a 10-ticket limit; all seats are reserved. Tickets to the Las Vegas and San Diego shows go on sale Feb. 22.

QUICK TAKES

Turner Broadcasting System already has picked up the U.S. network TV premiere rights for best picture Oscar contenders “Shine” and “The English Patient,” along with “Evita.” . . . Fearing that the force is against them, Paramount Pictures has pushed back the release of “The Saint,” starring Val Kilmer and Elisabeth Shue, from March 14 to April 4. Paramount called the move a “strategic response” to “the phenomenal success of ‘Star Wars’ and the anticipated successes of the film’s two sequels.” . . . Pat Buchanan is returning to CNN’s “Crossfire” on March 3, joining John Sununu on the right against Geraldine Ferraro and Bill Press on the left. . . . Fox will premiere “Lawless,” starring Brian Bosworth as a renegade private investigator, on March 21. The show will air Fridays from 8 to 9 p.m., displacing “Sliders,” which returns in May. . . . Musician Bruce Hornsby urged Virginia lawmakers Tuesday to retire the state song, “Carry Me Back to Old Virginia,” because of its references to “darkey” and “massa.” The state Senate passed legislation to find a new song, but the House of Delegates still is considering the matter.