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Marcin: a guitarist so good, he's accused of faking it
Polish guitar prodigy Marcin, whose virtuoso performances have won celebrity fans and been viewed millions of times online, has a technique so fast and complex that he is regularly accused of tricking listeners.

ECB's digital euro sparks flurry of online misinformation
European Central Bank president Christine Lagarde's recent remarks on a "digital euro" prompted a fresh wave of misinformation online, highlighting an uphill battle ahead to convince the public of the project's merits.

UK artist Grayson Perry indulges playful side in new show
It was a radical idea: give UK artist Grayson Perry, known for his cross-dressing and flamboyant, colourful art, carte blanche to create new works inspired by one of the world's finest collections of decorative arts.

'Spider-Man,' 'Harry Potter' producers hired for new 007 film
The producers behind the "Spider-Man" and "Harry Potter" film franchises will oversee the next James Bond movie, Amazon MGM Studios announced Tuesday.

UK judge slams Paddington Bear statue vandals
Two vandals who broke a statue of Paddington Bear in half were the "antithesis" of everything the affable character from British storybooks stands for, a UK judge sentencing the pair said on Tuesday.

UK watchdog concerned Oasis fans 'misled' into buying costly tickets
Fans of UK rockers Oasis may have been tricked into buying "platinum" seats that offered no additional advantage during the much-criticised ticket sale for their upcoming reunion gigs, Britain's competition watchdog said Tuesday.

Barcelona basilica narrows down search for artist to design facade
Celebrated Spanish artist Miquel Barcelo, his compatriot Cristina Iglesias and Mexican Javier Marin have been shortlisted to design the main facade of Barcelona's iconic Sagrada Familia basilica, the body overseeing its construction said on Tuesday.

'Reasons to be optimistic': UK startups boost local news scene
On the second floor of a London furniture store, three journalists are busy finalising the latest edition of a newsletter, covering everything from local foodbank funding to a neighbourhood cafe.

US, Russia talks on Ukraine ceasefire wrap up as fresh fighting rages
A meeting between Russian and US officials on a partial ceasefire in Ukraine ended after 12 hours of negotiations in Saudi Arabia, Russian state media said, as both sides in the conflict reported a wave of fresh attacks.

Young Indonesians toast Britpop scene with singalongs, swagger
At a smoke-filled warehouse in the Indonesian capital Jakarta, hundreds of young men and women, some clad in hijabs, throw their arms in the air, bouncing to British songs from the 1990s.

US, Russia talks on Ukraine ceasefire end after 12 hours
A meeting between Russian and US officials on a partial ceasefire in Ukraine ended after 12 hours of negotiations in Saudi Arabia on Monday, Russian state media reported, with a joint statement expected the following day.

Shakira concerts give multimillion-dollar boost to Mexico
Shakira fans flocking to see the Colombian star in concert are generating tens of millions of dollars for Mexico, according to the local chamber of commerce, underscoring the economic signicifance of major musical events.

Proenza Schouler founders to take over at Spanish fashion brand Loewe
American designers Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez were named joint creative directors by Spanish brand Loewe on Monday.

Hijacking news: Fake media sites sow Ukraine disinformation
A fake news website falsely claimed that Ukraine's president is paying Western reporters to tarnish US President Donald Trump -- part of a series of deceptive reports spread by Russian-linked portals mimicking media outlets.

New 'Snow White' tops N.America box office despite grumpy reviews
Disney's remake of "Snow White," 90 years after the original blockbuster, topped the North American box office this weekend with an estimated take of $43 million, but faces stiff winds -- and some horrendous reviews -- to make up its huge production costs.

London exhibit spotlights Victor Hugo's lesser-known talent -- drawing
French writer Victor Hugo is famous for penning "The Hunchback of Notre-Dame" and "Les Miserables", but less known is his work as an illustrator -- now the subject of a new exhibition in London.

Snoopy the fashion icon celebrated in Paris exhibition
A new exhibition opened Saturday in Paris charting the emergence of Snoopy as a fashion icon, with the famed black-and-white beagle embraced by designers from streetwear brands to couture houses.

French museum uncovers in storage picture by Renaissance woman master
A provincial museum in northern France on Friday showed off a picture now attributed to one of the greatest women painters of the Italian Renaissance, Lavinia Fontana, but which had for decades languished in its storage.

Study probes mystery of Berlin techno clubs' door policy
Berlin's techno clubs have long been famed for their picky bouncers, with hopeful clubbers often queueing for hours only to be met with a stern "no" at the door.

Avowed misogynist Andrew Tate returns to Romania
Self-described misogynist influencer Andrew Tate said on Friday he was returning to Romania, where he is facing rape and human trafficking charges, after a trip to the US.

Forbidden K-pop to centre stage: North Koreans set for music debut
Growing up in North Korea, Hyuk's childhood was about survival. He never listened to banned K-pop music but, after defecting to the South, he's about to debut as an idol.

Netflix hit 'Adolescence' stokes UK parents' anxiety
"Adolescence", the Netflix hit series about a British 13-year-old boy arrested on suspicion of a horrifying crime, has intensified the anxiety of parents worried about toxic and misogynistic influences young people are exposed to online.

Godard's 'Breathless' script set to be auctioned
The only known script of French director Jean-Luc Godard's New Wave classic "Breathless" that includes pages of his handwritten notes is set to be sold at auction in June, Sotheby's said Thursday.

Europe games industry on edge as 'Assassin's Creed' hits shelves
Thursday's release of action-adventure epic "Assassin's Creed Shadows" marks a make-or-break moment not just for struggling French games heavyweight Ubisoft, but for the entire European gaming ecosystem.

Cambridge to give honorary degree to rapper Stormzy
Hip-hop star Stormzy will receive an honorary degree from Cambridge, where he has launched a scholarship programme for black students, the prestigious British university said Wednesday.

EU skewers Google, Apple over tech rules -- despite Trump threats
The European Union defied US threats of retaliation Wednesday by accusing Google of violating its digital rules -- which could trigger hefty fines -- and ordering Apple to make its iPhone interact better with rivals' devices.

Global music business raked in $29.6 bn in 2024: report
The global music industry raked in a record $29.6 billion last year as online streaming propelled revenues to their highest level since records began in the 1990s, new figures showed on Wednesday.

US music industry posts 100 million paid streaming users
The US music industry passed 100 million paid streaming subscriptions for the first time in 2024, according to the latest report from the Recording Industry Association of America released Tuesday.

Hollywood urges Trump to protect film, TV from AI
Hundreds of Hollywood stars including Ben Stiller, Cate Blanchett and Cynthia Erivo have urged Donald Trump's White House to protect film, TV and music copyrights against big tech and artificial intelligence.

China calls media outlets facing Trump funding axe 'notorious'
Beijing on Tuesday said media outlets facing the axe by US President Donald Trump had a "notorious" history of reporting on China, as Cambodia's autocratic former leader hailed the move for "combating fake news".

Fired US federal worker in need of releasing steam? Try the internet
A spoon emoji, a subreddit, a viral song: US federal workers are finding sweet succor in the bosom of the internet as President Donald Trump takes an ax to their jobs.

Conan O'Brien tapped to host Oscars again
Conan O'Brien will return to host a second consecutive Oscars, the Academy said Monday, after this month's well-reviewed gala drew almost 20 million viewers in a slight ratings uptick.