Featured
Last news
Geopolitics and glitz as Ukraine tipped to win Eurovision
Kitsch, glitz and geopolitics -- the Eurovision Song Contest is back in two weeks' time, with Russia excluded and conflict-ravaged Ukraine the hot favourite to take the crown.
In Scandinavia, wooden buildings reach new heights
A sandy-coloured tower glints in the sunlight and dominates the skyline of the Swedish town of Skelleftea as Scandinavia harnesses its wood resources to lead a global trend towards erecting eco-friendly high-rises.
Musk sells $8.4 bn in Tesla shares after Twitter deal
Tesla chief Elon Musk sold about $8.4 billion worth of shares in the electric carmaker in the days after Twitter's board agreed to his $44 billion takeover offer, according to US securities filings.
New York's MoMA exhibits Matisse's paintings within a painting
When Henri Matisse painted "The Red Studio" in 1911 he portrayed 11 of his artworks on a single canvas. An exhibition in New York is about to display all the surviving works together for the first time.
Amazon reports rare quarterly loss, sees 'challenges' ahead
Amazon on Thursday posted its first quarterly loss since 2015, as it was dragged down by its investment in electric truck maker Rivian, and warned of continuing challenges in the months ahead.
Peru to buy illegal coca crops to battle drug trafficking
Peru's government has announced a plan to buy the nation's entire supply of illegal coca leaf -- the primary ingredient in cocaine -- for at least a year, as part of its battle against drug trafficking.
Novelist Paul Auster's son, charged over baby's death, dies
The 44-year-old son of acclaimed US novelist Paul Auster has died, New York police said Thursday, just over a week after he was charged in the death of his baby daughter.
Twitter reports mixed Q1 results after Musk deal
Twitter released mixed first-quarter results Thursday, with revenues missing estimates but active users rising, three days after agreeing to be acquired by Elon Musk.
Can movie theaters save Netflix? 'Door is open,' says trade group boss
John Fithian, head of the movie theater industry's trade body, is used to shrugging off claims that Netflix will spell doom for the big-screen, popcorn-munching experience.
Olivia Wilde served legal papers live on stage
When Olivia Wilde was handed a mysterious envelope on stage midway through her presentation before a packed Las Vegas audience, many assumed it was the set-up for an elaborate joke.
Disney dropped Depp from 'Pirates' over abuse allegations: ex-agent
Johnny Depp was dropped from the "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise because of the domestic abuse allegations made by Amber Heard, his former Hollywood agent said Wednesday, backing up the actor's claim against his ex-wife.
Judge rejects Musk bid to free tweets from oversight
Twitter's new buyer Elon Musk still must have his tweets about his electric car company Tesla pre-approved after a US judge on Wednesday rejected an appeal to free him from oversight.
Progressive Twitter accounts lose followers, conservatives gain
Key figures on the American left, Barack Obama among them, have shed thousands of followers since Elon Musk's planned purchase of Twitter emerged, while numbers have soared for right-wing politicians.
In Egypt, the president is a Ramadan TV hero
As Egyptians mark the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, they are being treated to a blockbuster TV series that celebrates their army marshall turned president, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
The Rock brings superheroes to CinemaCon as 'Elvis' returns to Vegas
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson topped a superhero-packed bill as Warner Bros presented its upcoming slate of blockbusters at CinemaCon on Tuesday, while Baz Luhrmann's "Elvis" graced the Las Vegas casino stage at the movie industry summit.
Alwa: the Indigenous Bolivian rapper breaking down barriers
Alwa stands rigidly in front of a microphone, wearing a traditional puffy "pollera" skirt, a picture of serious concentration as Andean panpipe music starts up in the background.
Trippy Bowie film 'Moonage Daydream' wows CinemaCon
An experimental new David Bowie documentary featuring never-before-seen footage and the late music superstar's own narration was previewed Tuesday at the CinemaCon convention in Las Vegas.
Google-parent Alphabet sees quarterly profit slip
Shares in Google's parent company Alphabet sank Tuesday after the internet giant reported that earnings in the recently ended quarter missed market expectations, with profit down from a year earlier.
Can Twitter become more profitable under Elon Musk?
Since going public in 2013, Twitter has only occasionally turned a profit, even if it has a commanding role in politics and culture worldwide.
Saudi call for Doctor Strange cut an 'expected disappointment': Cumberbatch
British actor Benedict Cumberbatch on Tuesday said he was disappointed but not surprised that Saudi Arabia had asked Disney to cut "LGBTQ references" from its latest Marvel film.
Cannes Festival picks French actor Vincent Lindon to head jury
Veteran French actor Vincent Lindon will head the main jury at this year's Cannes Film Festival which awards the coveted Palme d'Or top prize, organisers said Tuesday.
Top radio chief sees Russia 'thrown back 40 years'
It survived for decades as one of Russia's leading independent voices, but when radio station Echo of Moscow shut down last month, long-time editor Alexei Venediktov knew it was the end of an era.
Trump rules out Twitter return as Musk announces $44 bn purchase
Former US president Donald Trump vowed he would not be returning to Twitter if his account was reinstated following the purchase of the platform by tech billionaire Elon Musk, announced on Monday.
Elon Musk reaches deal to buy Twitter for $44 bn
Elon Musk, the world's richest man, struck a deal Monday to buy Twitter for $44 billion, capping a saga complete with hostile takeover threats before delivering him personal control of one of the most influential social media platforms on the planet.
Twitter shares rise on reports it will accept Musk takeover bid
Twitter shares rose Monday following reports the company is poised to accept Elon Musk's takeover offer, a dramatic shift after the board organized a "poison pill" to ward off the billionaire entrepreneur's hostile buyout bid.
Tiny Bronte book heads home to Yorkshire after New York sale
A miniature book of poems written by a 13-year-old Charlotte Bronte will return to her windswept Yorkshire home after it was bought for $1.25 million by a British consortium, the buyers said Monday.
Nobel laureate Vargas Llosa to head home after beating Covid: family
Nobel literature laureate Mario Vargas Llosa has "beaten" Covid and will leave the Madrid clinic where he was being treated to complete his recovery at home, his family tweeted on Monday.
'Bad Guys' finish first in N.American box office
Three new releases helped fuel the North American box office this weekend, with Universal's animated action-comedy "The Bad Guys" on top with an estimated $24 million take, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported Sunday.
Johnny Depp in starring role at defamation trial
Testy at times, rambling and poetic at others, Johnny Depp has embraced a familiar role at his defamation trial against his former wife Amber Heard -- the leading man.
Iraq exhibits restored art pillaged after 2003 invasion
Verdant landscapes, stylised portraits of peasant women, curved sculptures -- an exhibition in Baghdad is allowing art aficionados to rediscover the pioneers of contemporary Iraqi art.
EU eyes deal to tame internet 'Wild West'
The European Union on Friday homed in on new regulation to require Big Tech to remove harmful online content, the bloc's latest move to rein in the world's online giants.
'Cinema Paradiso' actor Jacques Perrin dies at 80
French actor and filmmaker Jacques Perrin, who starred in dozens of films including "Cinema Paradiso" and "The Young Girls of Rochefort" and co-directed "Winged Migration", has died at the age of 80, his family told AFP.
Tuft Love: Young Chinese weave away stress with crafts
Using a craft gun to shoot yarn through a fabric screen, Nora Peng puts the finishing touches on a rug in the shape of a corgi's bottom -- the perfect stress-relieving hobby for her frantic days.
Obama calls for tigher reins on big tech
Former US president Barack Obama on Thursday called out Silicon Valley, urging tech companies to stop dividing society and undermining democracy, and for political leaders to help guide the way with regulation.
CNN to close streaming service after one month
CNN will shut down its new streaming service next week, just one month after launching it with much fanfare, the US network announced Thursday.
Musk says he has financing to take Twitter buyout bid to investors
Elon Musk has lined up $46.5 billion in financing for a possible hostile takeover of Twitter and is "exploring" a direct tender offer to shareholders, according to a securities filing released Thursday.
Ukraine war steals the show at Venice Art Biennale
Pavlo Makov fled Russia's invasion with almost nothing but is proud to represent Ukraine at this year's Venice Biennale, which raises questions about the role of art at a time of war.
Freddie Mercury to live forever in South Korea statue
A die-hard Queen fan unveiled a life-size bronze statue of Freddie Mercury on Thursday on South Korea's resort island of Jeju, after an eight-year quest to honour his late hero.
EU nears deal on massive tech services regulation
The European Union could agree on Friday a new regulation imposing unprecedented curbs on online content, the second part of its massive project to regulate tech companies.