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UK mansion where 'listeners' spied on Nazi generals becomes museum

Upstairs, Nazi generals enjoyed wine and lounged in elegant rooms. Downstairs in the basement, a team of covert listeners followed their chatter, gleaning vital insights into Germany's war plans.

Millions of Thais banish the booze for Buddhist Lent

With her palms pressed together and her head bowed, Wassana Nak-umma vowed to give up alcohol for three months, joining millions of Thais in an abstinence campaign blending public health with spirituality.

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Returning to 'Ted Lasso' after break 'effortless': Hannah Waddingham

With World Cup excitement still reverberating, Apple TV's football comedy hit "Ted Lasso" is returning after a three-year hiatus, and according to the cast, they needed no warm-up to get back on the pitch.

Ariana Grande withdraws from London musical, seeks to 'step back'

Pop star Ariana Grande has dropped out of what would have been her debut appearance in London's West End, the show's producers said Sunday, as a representative for the singer said she wants to take a "step back" from the public eye.

'Spider-Man' soars to huge $355 million opening in North America

"Spider-Man: Brand New Day," Sony and Marvel's latest chapter in the comic book adventure starring Tom Holland as the iconic web-slinger, raked in a massive $355 million in its North American debut, industry estimates showed Sunday.

Vincent Pastore, who played 'Big Pussy' on 'The Sopranos,' dead at 80

Vincent Pastore, the actor best known for mob enforcer-turned-informant Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero on HBO's hit series "The Sopranos," has died at the age of 80, his manager told AFP on Saturday.

Google rolls back new satellite image AI tool after backlash

Google rolled back Friday a new feature allowing Google Earth users to generate AI visualizations on top of the service's satellite imagery, following a furious backlash from researchers and open-source intelligence experts about the potential for disinformation.

A side of oysters for France's flat-out firefighters

As the smoke from France's worst wildfire in over 75 years rose over the Bassin d'Arcachon, a pair of nearby firefighters tucked into a plate of oysters plucked from the bay west of Bordeaux.

Tyla drops Lagos show as South Africa, Nigeria row over immigration

South African singer-songwriter Tyla has removed a scheduled show in Nigeria as tensions over anti-immigrant violence hamper relations between the two countries.

UK singer Boy George pulls out of musical after pro-Israel song backlash

British singer Boy George pulled out of a West End production of the musical "Jesus Christ Superstar" after facing a backlash for releasing a pro-Israel song, "We Will Dance Again".

Nolan's 'Odyssey' boosts sales of mythology tales in UK

Christopher Nolan's adaptation of "The Odyssey" has not only lured legions of fans to cinemas, but sparked huge interest in the UK in Homer's epic poem and other Greek and Roman mythology works.

Judge orders Amy Winehouse's father to pay nearly £1mn to her friends

The father of British music sensation Amy Winehouse was Wednesday ordered to pay £950,000 ($1.26 million) to his late daughter's friends, who he unsuccessfully sued for auctioning the singer's clothes and other items.

India's youth protests puncture Modi's aura of invincibility

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's carefully built image of invincibility is facing its toughest test yet, analysts say, after his government backed down in the face of youth-led protests over exam irregularities and jobs prospects.

Made by AI? EU tells firms to stick a label on it from Sunday

Deepfakes and other AI-generated content must be labelled from Sunday, as the European Union's sweeping artificial intelligence transparency rules kick in.

Documentary on Stan Lee's final years faced industry opposition, filmmaker says

Comic book enthusiast Jon Bolerjack began filming with Stan Lee around 2014, intending to document how the legendary creator behind some of the world's most beloved superheroes was spending his 90s.

UK TV comedy star and naturalist Bill Oddie dies at 85

UK television personality Bill Oddie, best known for his role in the TV comedy series "The Goodies" and presenter of nature programmes, has died aged 85, his agent said Monday.

Explosions, red flags: Chinese tourists reenact communist victory

Dressed in Red Army uniforms and waving prop weapons, scores of tourists stormed a mound in southwestern China's Loushan Pass as pyrotechnics lit up the hillside in a reenactment of a historic battle.

Nolan's 'Odyssey' shows staying power at N. America box office

Christopher Nolan's latest blockbuster, "The Odyssey," retained the top spot at the North American box office in its second week, taking in an additional $87 million, industry estimates showed Sunday.

Lucas Museum to display unseen 'Star Wars' pieces, curator says

The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art -- founded by legendary "Star Wars" creator George Lucas and his wife -- will see previously undisplayed items from the hit sci-fi series after it opens later this year, its curator told AFP.

Marvel announces 'Black Panther III' at Comic-Con

Superhero movie fans will officially return to the world of Wakanda in "Black Panther III," the newest entry in the Marvel film franchise, the studio announced at Comic-Con on Saturday.

'The Odyssey': Christopher Nolan's latest cultural phenomenon

Christopher Nolan's star-studded adaptation of "The Odyssey" has quickly become his latest box office success, capturing audiences and generating conversation around the world.

'Star Trek' celebrates 60th anniversary at Comic-Con

"Star Trek" legend George Takei on Saturday headlined a 60th anniversary celebration of the groundbreaking sci-fi series at Comic-Con, which featured stars from across the Starship Enterprise's expanded universe of films and shows.

Teenager allegedly slain by singer D4vd had abortion, court told

The teenage girl allegedly killed and dismembered by American singer D4vd had an abortion after their sexual encounter, according to text messages revealed Friday in a Los Angeles court.

100-year-old Mel Brooks lands at Comic-Con for 'Spaceballs' sequel

From the far reaches of the galaxy, the team behind "Spaceballs: The New One," the sequel to comedy master Mel Brooks's "Star Wars" parody, landed at Comic-Con on Friday in San Diego.

Nazgul haunt the hall as 'Rings of Power' trailer airs at Comic-Con

The third season of "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" premiered its trailer Friday at San Diego Comic-Con.

Trump orders disclaimer signs outside museum of American history

US President Donald Trump issued an executive order Friday to install signage that warns visitors of inaccurate historical information inside The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History in Washington.

Charli XCX pivots from hyperpop in post-Brat album

British megastar Charli XCX released her first album since the smash hit "Brat" on Friday, shaking things up with a moody, self-referential collection titled "Music, Fashion, Film".

Comic-Con kicks off with Marvel's return

Comic book fans will return to San Diego, California on Thursday for the latest Comic-Con, with many convention-goers buzzing about this year's return of Marvel.

Bollywood blast master keeps it real with fire and fury

From fireballs to gunfights, Bollywood special effects master Vishal Tyagi is going the old-fashioned way to create cinematic chaos in a way he says artificial intelligence simply cannot.

EU conditionally clears Paramount bid for Warner Bros.

The European Union on Wednesday gave the conditional green light for Paramount Skydance's $110 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery.

Hitler's Austrian birthplace transformed into police station

Austria opened a new police station in Adolf Hitler's former house on Wednesday, in the hope of deterring today's ascendant far-right extremists from making the pilgrimage to the Nazi dictator's birthplace.

Danish fish fossil cliffs set to gain UNESCO status

Two Danish coastal cliffs where palaeontologists have uncovered 55-million-year-old fossils of prehistoric wildlife are likely to gain World Heritage status as UNESCO's committee meets in South Korea.

Sydney court dismisses defamation case against film star Rebel Wilson

A defamation case against Australian film star Rebel Wilson was dismissed by a Sydney court on Wednesday.

Decomposed body in singer D4vd's car was 'unrecognizable,' court hears

The body of a teenage girl found in the trunk of US singer D4vd's car had decomposed to the point it was "unrecognizable," a police detective testified in a Los Angeles court on Tuesday.

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