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Australian state overturns Melbourne ban on World Cup watch party

Australian authorities on Thursday reversed a ban on public watch parties in Melbourne's Federation Square for the 2026 football World Cup after the decision sparked an outcry.

Pioneering CNN founder Ted Turner dead at 87

Ted Turner, the flamboyant US entrepreneur who transformed television news with the creation of CNN in 1980, has died at the age of 87, the network said Wednesday.

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Thieves target high-value Pokemon cards as franchise turns 30

What began as a quiet meetup of Pokemon enthusiasts at a US store ended with an armed robbery in which masked men held the group at gunpoint to steal more than $100,000 in trading cards.

Prada unravels, layers and reveals at Milan Fashion Week

Does Prada want to coddle you in an unravelling world?

The woman fighting to reclaim her face from Albania's 'AI minister'

Albanian actor Anila Bisha is renowned for playing complex women on the stage and screen, skills honed over a 30-year career, but now she lives in the shadow of her AI avatar and a performance she never gave.

Berlinale meet called over film director's anti-Israel speech

German culture officials plan to summon organisers of the Berlin film festival Thursday after the event was rocked this year by controversy over the Israel-Palestinian conflict and Gaza war.

France appoints new Louvre chief after jewellery heist

The president of France's Palace of Versailles on Wednesday took over as head of the Louvre following a litany of problems at the world's most-visited museum including a $100 million jewellery robbery.

France appoints new president at Louvre after jewellery heist

The president of France's famed Palace of Versailles took over as head of the Louvre following a litany of problems at the world's most-visited museum including a $100-million jewellery robbery.

Head of France's Versailles Palace to take over Louvre: source to AFP

The president of France's Palace of Versailles is expected to take over as head of the Louvre following the resignation of Laurence des Cars after a $100-million robbery at the museum last year, an informed source told AFP on Wednesday.

Bejart Ballet's iconic Bolero ignites Istanbul

Thirty-six dancers with raised arms glide slowly forward as they encircle their prey, a lone figure on a red table in a climactic scene from Ravel's "Bolero" choreographed by Maurice Bejart.

Warner Bros. opens door to Paramount as bidding war heats up

Warner Bros. Discovery said Tuesday it has received a revised acquisition proposal from Paramount Skydance, signaling that the offer could open the door to the company rethinking its deal with Netflix.

Louvre president hands in resignation to Macron: Elysee

The head of France's Louvre museum resigned on Tuesday, the office of the French presidency announced, following a months-long string of scandals -- including the brazen theft of priceless jewels in broad daylight.

Gazans salvage ancient books in mosque library damaged by war

Inside the dusty shell of one of the oldest libraries in the Palestinian territories, a group of Gazan volunteers work diligently to salvage what remains of their ancient cultural heritage.

Netflix, Prime and Disney+ face UK broadcasting regulation

The UK government on Tuesday announced that US streaming sites Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video will have to comply with broadcasting regulations aimed at protecting children and the vulnerable.

Snoop Dogg 'can't wait' for first Swansea visit

Swansea co-owner Snoop Dogg wants fans to serenade him by twirling towels when he visits the Welsh football club for the first time.

Tourette's campaigner 'mortified' after shouting racial slur during BAFTA

Tourette's sufferer John Davidson, who inspired a BAFTA-winning film, on Monday said he was "deeply mortified" after shouting a racial slur at the London awards ceremony, which he said was caused by an "involuntary tic".

BBC apologises for 'involuntary' Tourette's racial slur during BAFTA awards

The BBC apologised Monday for not editing out a racial slur during the BAFTA awards, saying it was an "involuntary" verbal tic by a Tourette's sufferer who inspired a winning film.

Kristen Bell returns to host glitzy Actor Awards in Hollywood

Kristen Bell returns to host Hollywood's premier acting awards next month for the third time with a single goal: to entertain everyone equally.

Senegal's Sahad, radiant champion of 'musical pan-Africanism'

With exhilarating charisma, stage energy and impassioned lyrics, Senegalese musician Sahad has created a unique body of work from a kaleidoscope of influences, culminating in his new pan-African album.

'I will go': Bengalis in Pakistan hope for family reunions

Shah Alam travelled from his home in Bangladesh to Pakistan for a brief visit nearly three decades ago, but flaring hostility between the two countries and financial woes left him stranded in the megacity of Karachi.

'One Battle' triumphs at BAFTAs that honour British talent

Paul Thomas Anderson's "One Battle After Another" continued its awards season streak by winning the top prize at the BAFTAs on Sunday, with the British awards also recognising homegrown talent across categories.

'Hamnet' eyes BAFTAs glory over 'One Battle', 'Sinners'

An offbeat political thriller, a vampire horror film and a period drama about Shakespeare will go head-to-head Sunday at the BAFTAs, Britain's biggest film awards, setting the stage for the Oscars.

Artist creates 'Latin American Mona Lisa' with plastic bottle caps

Call it a Renaissance in recycling.

US salsa legend Willie Colon dead at 75

Salsa music icon Willie Colon died on Saturday, his family and longtime manager said, leaving fans mourning the loss of "an architect of the New York sound."

Political drama 'Yellow Letters' wins Berlin's Golden Bear

"Yellow Letters", directed by German filmmaker Ilker Catak, won the Berlin Film Festival's Golden Bear for best film Saturday, at a ceremony reflecting the controversy over Gaza that has dogged this year's edition.

First all-Pakistani production makes history at Berlin film fest

The Berlin film festival, which draws to a close on Saturday, made a piece of film history earlier this week when it screened its first all-Pakistani produced feature film.

Political drama overshadows Berlin Film Festival finale

The 76th Berlin Film Festival draws to a close on Saturday after 10 days in which the 22 films in competition were often overshadowed by a row over the role politics should play in filmmaking.

'Boldly headbang': Star Trek's Shatner, 94, unveils metal album

"Star Trek" legend William Shatner is boldly going where few 94-year-olds have gone before, as the Canadian actor announced plans to release a heavy metal album.

Russian SVR spy agency took over Wagner 'influence' ops in Africa: report

Russia's SVR foreign intelligence agency has taken over mercenary group Wagner's influence operations in Africa after the death of its founder Yevgeny Prigozhin, according to a new investigation.

I never thought it would be hit, says 'Scream' creator 30 years later

When he sat down to write the first "Scream" film which appeared in cinemas exactly 30 years ago, horror movies were out of fashion and aspiring Hollywood creative Kevin Williamson had low expectations.

X appeals EU's 120-mn-euro fine over digital content violations

Elon Musk's X social media platform said Friday that it had filed an appeal with the European Union's top court against a 120-million-euro ($142 million) fine for breaking its digital content rules.

Bosnia probes fascist salutes at Croatian singer's concert

Bosnian prosecutors said Thursday they were investigating reports of fans performing fascist salutes at a concert by an ultra-nationalist Croatian singer.

Bad Bunny to star in movie about Puerto Rico

Fresh from his success at the Grammys and a triumphant Super Bowl halftime show, Puerto Rican megastar Bad Bunny is set to take the lead role in an all-star film, producers announced Wednesday.

Zuckerberg grilled over underage users at social media trial

CEO Mark Zuckerberg said Wednesday he regretted Meta's slow progress in identifying underage users on Instagram, as he faced stinging criticism at a landmark social media trial over accusations that his company deliberately hooked under-13s.

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