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'Let the light in': Romanian Roma actress smashes stigma with new play
As a child, Roma actress and playwright Alina Serban didn't see herself represented on television, in movies or books, her stigmatised community shunned from the cultural mainstream.
Iraq struggles to make use of Saddam's crumbling palaces
Scattered across Iraq lie more than 100 opulent palaces and villas built by former dictator Saddam Hussein -- some in use, many in ruins like much of the war-scarred country.
India's Chettinad mansions a testament to past glory
Thousands of mansions in a remote corner of India once housed some of the nation's wealthiest bankers and traders but a century later most of them lie abandoned, their desolate remains a mute testament to lost riches.
Austria court orders Facebook to remove defamatory content
An Austrian court has ordered Facebook to remove content defaming a former lawmaker and post a banner on its home page announcing the decision, a court spokesman said Wednesday.
Spotify shares tumble on weak profit forecast
Shares of Spotify tumbled Wednesday after the music streaming service reported a quarterly loss and projected lower profit margins in the coming earnings period.
Four men charged in overdose death of 'The Wire' actor Williams
New York prosecutors said Wednesday they had charged four men in relation to the drug overdose death of "The Wire" actor Michael K. Williams.
CNN chief Zucker resigns over undisclosed relationship
CNN president Jeff Zucker, who helped propel Donald Trump to stardom with "The Apprentice" but became his nemesis after the real estate tycoon entered the White House, resigned Wednesday for failing to disclose a romantic relationship with a colleague.
US star Joe Rogan, podcaster in eye of misinformation storm
US podcast star Joe Rogan, who has been called out by music legends Neil Young and Joni Mitchell for spreading Covid-19 disinformation on the hugely popular Spotify streaming service, is as enthralling as he is provocative.
Crosby, Stills and Nash follow Young's lead in Spotify row
Neil Young's former bandmates from Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young said Wednesday they had asked their labels to remove their recordings from Spotify, making them the latest musicians to take a stand over misinformation on the platform.
NY Times hits 10 mn-subscription mark amid growth spurt
The New York Times reported Wednesday that buying The Athletic had helped power the paper past its 10 million-subscription target years in advance, and the company is now aiming to grow by millions more subscribers.
'Necessary evil': Some artists say can't quit Spotify
After music legends Neil Young and Joni Mitchell quit Spotify over a Covid misinformation row, some lesser-known artists have said they simply couldn't afford to leave the world's largest music streamer -- despite their concerns.
Google parent Alphabet profit soars on ads and cloud
Google's parent company Alphabet announced profits Tuesday that beat expectations and nearly doubled in 2021 -- shrugging off anxieties of a pandemic slowdown after a particularly fruitful holiday season.
Sony to buy 'Halo' creator Bungie as gaming fight heats up
PlayStation maker Sony announced a $3.6 billion agreement on Monday to buy US video game studio Bungie, creator of hits like "Halo" and "Destiny", as a gaming industry battle heats up with Microsoft.
Sony buys 'Halo' creator Bungie as gaming fight heats up
PlayStation maker Sony on Monday announced a $3.6 billion deal to buy US video game studio Bungie, creator of hits like "Halo" and "Destiny", as a gaming industry battle heats up against Microsoft.
'Spider-Man' stays aloft to lead N.America box office on slow weekend
With moviegoing slowed by the Covid-19 surge, "Spider-Man: No Way Home" easily clung to its box-office lead in North American theaters this weekend, industry data showed Sunday.
'Celebration of queerness': S.Africa drag queens keep scene alive
A leggy blonde sashays with the grace of a Hollywood star then drops into the splits, mesmerising an enthusiastic Johannesburg audience not used to watching major shows by international drag queens.
Singer Chris Brown sued in US for rape
Singer Chris Brown is being sued for rape in California, with his alleged victim claiming he drugged her and attacked her on a yacht at rap mogul Diddy's Florida home.
Immigrant thriller 'Nanny' wins top prize at Sundance
"Nanny," a supernatural thriller about an undocumented immigrant working for a wealthy New York family, won the Sundance film festival's top prize Friday.
Man arrested outside Taylor Swift's Manhattan home after attempting to enter
New York police on Friday said they arrested a man outside Taylor Swift's building, which he had crashed his vehicle into and attempted to forcibly enter.
Janet Jackson doc offers skin-deep account of superstar's rise
A new Janet Jackson documentary out Friday offers a narrow glimpse into the fiercely private superstar's early life and rise to fame.
China's 'Fight Club' ending closer to original book: author
The new ending to the Chinese release of "Fight Club" in which the authorities win is actually closer to the original book, the author has said.
Netflix must face 'Queen's Gambit' lawsuit, US judge rules
A Georgian former chess world champion's $5-million lawsuit against Netflix will go ahead after she claimed she was defamed in an episode of "The Queen's Gambit," a Los Angeles judge has ruled.
Unique expo places Saint Laurent among Paris treasures
Tucked away like Easter eggs in the most prestigious Paris museums, a unique commemoration of designer Yves Saint Laurent cements his status among the greats of French cultural history.
Apple hits revenue record despite chip shortage
Apple reported record $124 billion quarterly revenue on Thursday, despite a global chip pinch and shifting impacts of the pandemic that have weighed down other big tech players.
'Dune, 'Licorice Pizza' and 'West Side Story' top Hollywood guild noms
Sci-fi epic "Dune," coming-of-age drama "Licorice Pizza" and musical remake "West Side Story" received major boosts in Hollywood's awards season race Thursday as several of the film industry's top guilds unveiled their nominees.
Neil Young-Spotify row underscores podcast disinformation issues
Neil Young's ultimatum to Spotify that it choose between his music and the controversial star podcaster Joe Rogan has become a flashpoint in the conversation over online disinformation and corporate responsibility to moderate it.
Web-tracking 'cookies' meant to protect privacy: inventor
The data-tracking "cookies" at the heart of concerns over online privacy were meant to shield people, rather than serve as cyber snoops, their inventor told AFP.
India opposition leader says Twitter 'curbing free speech'
The de facto head of India's main opposition party has complained to Twitter about "strange" activity on his account, accusing the US giant of being the "unwitting" ally of the government in curbing free speech.
Studio Ghibli theme park to open in Japan in November
A theme park based on the films of top anime studio Studio Ghibli, renowned for titles including the Oscar-winning "Spirited Away", will open in central Japan on November 1, the studio and local officials said Thursday.
Twitter suspends spoiler account for 'Wordle' answer reveal
Twitter suspended a bot account on Wednesday for spoiling the solution to the next day's Wordle, the wildly popular internet word puzzle.
Despite Covid hurdles, US orchestras find the joy in music
At the start of 2020, the National Symphony Orchestra was planning its first international tour with conductor Gianandrea Noseda, and an epic Beethoven cycle to mark the 250th anniversary of the legendary composer's birth.
Intel sales hit record on chip demand as shortage lingers
Intel on Wednesday said 2021 was a record year for sales at the chip maker as it navigated unprecedented demand and supply chain constraints.
Isabel Allende: In Chile, the 'old fogeys' need to go
The "old fogeys" of Chilean politics must go, says Isabel Allende -- a stance that is true to form for the novelist, whose latest book "Violeta" is a sweeping epic depicting the transformation between past and present.
Roll up: NFT's magical mystery now includes Beatles memorabilia
Beatles fans won't be able to touch them, but they can soon get their virtual hands on personal memorabilia from John Lennon's son Julian in the form of NFTs.
Virtuoso keeps Afghan music alive despite Taliban ban
Homayoun Sakhi closes his eyes and runs his fingers along the long neck of his wooden instrument encrusted with mother-of-pearl.
Neymar Netflix series preview attracts streaming legions
A live preview for a Netflix documentary on Brazilian soccer star Neymar attracted more than 500,000 streaming views on Monday night in the South American nation.
Bollywood star cleared of obscenity charges over 2007 Richard Gere kiss
Indian actress Shilpa Shetty has been formally cleared of obscenity charges dating from when Hollywood star Richard Gere publicly kissed her at an AIDS awareness event 15 years ago.
Twitter suspends hundreds of accounts promoting Philippines' Marcos Jr
Twitter has suspended hundreds of accounts reportedly linked to supporters of Philippine presidential frontrunner Ferdinand Marcos Jr, which the social media giant said had violated its rules on manipulation and spam.
Long-lost slave ship and fake riot towns spotlight race at Sundance
From its last known slave ship to heavy police militarization in the Civil Rights era, the United States' deeply troubled history with racism is highlighted by several Sundance festival films this week.