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Free Facebook in EU with less targeted ads

Under pressure by EU regulators, Meta said Tuesday it was offering non-paying users of its Facebook and Instagram services in the bloc the ability to do so with less targeted ads, as well as cutting its subscription rates.

Painter Frank Auerbach, contemporary of Freud and Bacon, dies at 93

Frank Auerbach, who fled Nazi Germany as a child and became one of Britain's leading 20th-century artists alongside Lucian Freud and Francis Bacon, has died in London aged 93, his gallery announced on Tuesday.

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Pitt sues Jolie over sale of French vineyard where they married

Brad Pitt is suing Angelina Jolie for selling her share of the French vineyard where they got married.

Kanye West says new album won't be released on streaming platforms

Kanye West on Friday dropped the tracklist to his planned new album "Donda 2," just after saying it would not be available to stream but instead exclusively on his own "Stem Player" device.

Ukraine's Russian speakers worry about being 'saved' by Putin

Kyiv driving instructor Andriy Atamanyuk does not want to be saved by Vladimir Putin despite the Kremlin chief's pledge to fight "discrimination" against Russian speakers in Ukraine.

Little-known bullfighting tradition lives on in UAE village

Far from Dubai's gleaming skyscrapers and renowned camel races, a bullfight is under way in the emirate of Fujairah, where the tradition continues unbeknown to most in the United Arab Emirates.

Treasured trash: UK waste gets new lease of life

From facial scrubs using coffee grounds to clothes made from plastic bottles and furniture decorated with agave fibres, efforts to upcycle or repurpose waste products are gaining traction in Britain.

Spanish agricultural drama 'Alcarras' wins Berlin film fest

The 72nd Berlin film festival awarded its Golden Bear top prize on Wednesday to Spanish director Carla Simon's semi-autobiographical drama "Alcarras", about a family of peach farmers fighting for their future.

Chile's last Yaghan speaker dies aged 93

Cristina Calderon, the last native speaker of Chile's indigenous Yaghan language, has died at the age of 93, her family said Wednesday, in a blow for a dwindling culture at South America's extreme southern tip.

Sotheby's tips largest blue diamond at auction to fetch $48 mn

Sotheby's announced Wednesday that it would offer the largest-ever blue diamond to go up for auction at a sale in Hong Kong in April.

'Little Prince' manuscript visits France for first time

The manuscript of "The Little Prince" travels to France for the first time this week as part of an exhibition about its legendary author Antoine de Saint-Exupery.

Olympic snowboard king Su Yiming showcases a more confident China

Sporting shoulder-length hair, rings and baggy trousers, teenage snowboarding sensation Su Yiming looked every inch the cool, confident ambassador of China's new youth as he swept to home Olympic gold.

India's 'disco king' Bappi Lahiri dies at 69

Indian singer-composer and "Disco King" Bappi Lahiri, who collaborated with the likes of Snoop Dogg and Samantha Fox, has died aged 69, his family said Wednesday, prompting tributes from the world of politics and Bollywood.

US satirist PJ O'Rourke dead at 74

US political satirist PJ O'Rourke, who skewered both Democrats and his fellow Republicans in barbed works including "Republican Party Reptile," has died at age 74, the writer's friends and employers said Tuesday.

Social networks pledge to fight fake news in Brazil vote

Eight leading social networks signed an agreement Tuesday to fight disinformation during Brazil's October presidential elections, though far-right President Jair Bolsonaro's new favorite, Telegram, was notably absent.

Acclaimed Brazilian filmmaker Arnoldo Jabor dies at 81

Filmmaker, writer and journalist Arnaldo Jabor, a leading figure in Brazil's "cinema novo" movement whose work won acclaim on the international festival circuit, died Tuesday at 81.

New taboo -- Wordle removes 'insensitive' words

Some four-letter words are taboo, but the New York Times has added a few five-lettered ones to the list -- by removing them from the hit game Wordle.

Italian director Taviani flies solo after brother's death

After more than half a century making acclaimed films with his brother Vittorio, Italian director Paolo Taviani premiered a movie on his own in Berlin on Tuesday at the age of 90.

Family of woman killed on 'Rust' set sues Alec Baldwin

The family of a woman shot by Alec Baldwin on the set of the movie "Rust" sued the US actor on Tuesday, claiming "substantial" damages for her wrongful death.

British Museum exhibition traces rise and fall of Stonehenge

A new exhibition on the Stonehenge stone circle in southern England sheds new light on its 4,500-year history, linking its declining influence to the Bronze Age population's discovery of metal working.

Wanda Sykes, Amy Schumer and Regina Hall confirmed as Oscars hosts

Next month's Oscars will be hosted by three doyennes of comedy, Wanda Sykes, Amy Schumer and Regina Hall, it was confirmed Tuesday, as organizers amp up efforts to lure viewers back to the ceremony.

Italy woos UNESCO with 'magical' espresso coffee rite

A shot of dark, velvety coffee is more than just a quick caffeine hit: Italy's espresso is a prized social and cultural ritual the country considers a national heritage worthy of UNESCO status.

Young labels make sustainable fashion headway at NY Fashion Week

Two years after losing her job in fashion due to the pandemic, Emma Gage founded her own brand, Melke, that debuted at this season's New York Fashion Week with an emphasis on sustainability.

Huppert to miss Berlinale after positive Covid test

French screen legend Isabelle Huppert has tested positive for Covid-19 and will be unable to pick up her lifetime achievement award at the Berlinale film festival, organisers said Monday.

Snoop Dogg, Kelly Clarkson to host American 'Eurovision'

Artists Snoop Dogg and Kelly Clarkson will host a "American Song Contest" modeled after the beloved Eurovision competition in a series to premiere in March.

Ancient mummies of children, likely sacrificed, unearthed in Peru

Six mummified children thought to have been sacrificed hundreds of years ago, apparently to accompany a dead nobleman to the afterlife, have been unearthed in a tomb near Lima, archaeologists reported.

'Ghostbusters' director Ivan Reitman dies aged 75

Ivan Reitman, the acclaimed producer and director of comedies such as "Ghostbusters" and "Animal House" which influenced a generation of movie-goers, has died aged 75, with Sony Pictures paying tribute Monday to "a great talent and even finer man."

Five top fashion trends at Euro 2016

With star footballers now doubling as fashion icons -- led by Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo who has his own underwear label -- we pick out the top five trends at the Euro 2016 championships.

Fan fury in China after 'Friends' LGBTQ plotline censored

The highly anticipated return of "Friends" to Chinese streaming platforms soured quickly after fans noticed an LGBTQ plotline was cut from the American sitcom -- and their complaints were censored too.

Berlin fest cheers mum's fight for son at Guantanamo

The true story of a mother's battle to bring her son back from Guantanamo Bay premiered to cheers in Berlin Saturday, as the German filmmakers called for reparations for the family.

Proenza Schouler opens Covid-affected New York Fashion Week

A coronavirus-impacted New York Fashion Week gets under way Friday with Fall/Winter 2022 shows by Proenza Schouler and Christian Cowan.

Italy's horror king seeks 'meaning' in schlock

Call girls in jeopardy, a serial killer on the loose, fountains of blood -- horror master Dario Argento has returned to filmmaking after a 10-year hiatus, saying Friday it's been his mission to bring "meaning" to schlock.

Shunned by French studios, 'Amelie' director turns to Netflix

He made perhaps the most famous French film of the century so far in "Amelie", but Jean-Paul Jeunet was forced to turn to Netflix after failing to find a traditional backer for his new movie.

Smash hit TV drama 'Borgen' is back 10 years on

"Borgen" is back. The Danish political drama about a charismatic woman who becomes prime minister took the world by storm and morphed into one of Scandinavia's biggest television exports returns a decade on.

Shunned by French studios, 'Amelie' director clinches Netflix deal

He made perhaps the most famous French film of the century so far with "Amelie", and now Jean-Pierre Jeunet says he'll make his new movie with Netflix after failing to find a traditional backer.

Colombia eyes 200 tonnes of galleon gold

Colombia took a step Thursday toward recovering a long-lost Spanish wreck and its fabled riches, but it may be a rough ride as Spain and native Bolivians have also staked claims on the booty.

Prehistoric drum is top ancient find: British Museum

A carved stone drum unearthed in England is one of the most significant pieces of prehistoric art ever found in the country, the British Museum said Thursday.

Twitter sticks with ambitious targets despite earnings miss

Twitter on Thursday reported that revenue and its user base grew less than expected, but the platform stuck with ambitious growth targets for the coming years.

Sting sells entire songwriting catalog to Universal

Sting has sold his songwriting catalog -- including solo works as well as hits with The Police like "Roxanne" -- to Universal Music Group, the company said Thursday, the industry's latest such blockbuster transaction.

Gender flip of film classic opens Berlin fest under virus cloud

A gender-swapped update of a German cult classic on Thursday opened the Berlinale, Europe's first major international film festival of the year, which organisers are staging as a live event despite surging coronavirus infections.

Ugandan author who fled after 'torture' vows to return

An award-winning Ugandan author and fierce government critic who fled the country after being "tortured" in custody told AFP on Thursday he planned to return home despite his ordeal.

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