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UK writer Samantha Harvey wins 2024 Booker with space novel

British writer Samantha Harvey won the prestigious Booker Prize on Tuesday for her science fiction novel following six astronauts as they orbit Earth over 24 hours.

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.

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BTS mania hits Seoul ahead of 'huggathon' with Jin

For BTS ARMY members, as the K-pop phenomenon's fan base is known, the timing of Jin's discharge from South Korean military service couldn't have been more fortuitous.

007 producers to receive honorary Oscars

The producers of the James Bond movies will receive honorary Oscars at a ceremony this November, the Academy said Wednesday, as anticipation swells for the announcement of who will next play 007.

Gabon artists dream of taking music born in prison to global stage

In a bar in Gabon's capital Libreville, revellers get up and dance as soon as the DJ plays N'Tcham -- a local rhythmic genre born out of the city's prisons.

Does street art belong in a museum?

Invaders in the Petit Palais: some 60 of the world's most renowned street artists have been invited into the rarefied confines of a Paris institution, even if some admit it raises questions about whether they belong.

French singer and 60s pop icon Francoise Hardy dies aged 80

French singer Francoise Hardy, whose crystalline voice and melancholy lyrics shot her to international stardom in the 1960s, has died at the age of 80, according to her son.

BTS star Jin finishes South Korean military service

K-pop megastar Jin from BTS was discharged from his South Korean military service Wednesday and feted by bandmates who hugged him, with RM belting out one of their hits on the saxophone to celebrate.

Elon Musk drops lawsuit against OpenAI and Sam Altman

Elon Musk on Tuesday dropped his lawsuit against OpenAI and its co-founders Sam Altman and Greg Brockman for betraying the startup's founding mission.

Phony 'news' portals surpass US newspaper sites, researchers say

Partisan websites masquerading as media outlets now outnumber American newspaper sites, a research group that tracks misinformation said Tuesday, highlighting a local news crisis in a year of high-stakes elections.

Nigeria's repressed LGBTQ party people let 'true self' out at Lagos ball

Performers strutted their stuff onstage at an LGBTQ community dance party in Nigeria's Lagos, publicly celebrating their identities in a country where being gay could land you in jail.

Hong Kong novelists seek freedom in exile after democracy crackdown

When Hong Kong author Kay So left her home city in 2020, she had in her luggage two short stories she had written about the huge, at times violent democracy protests that upended the city in 2019.

Tourists get taste of old Japan at hidden 'snack bars'

Down a Tokyo street lined with bright signs, up narrow stairs and behind a windowless door is a "snack bar" long cherished by regulars but hidden from tourists -- until now.

South China's 'fast and furious' Dragon Boat racing turns heads

Rowers furiously paddling careened around tight corners past packed crowds on Monday in southern China's Foshan, where the Dragon Boat racing is more "Fast and Furious" than your average contest.

Pioneering black conductor melds opera with S.African dance music

Ofentse Pitse embodies a fierce sense of fun as she waves her conducting baton passionately in a dimly lit auditorium in Johannesburg, ahead of a one-of-a-kind show.

'House of the Dragon' returns for more blood and fire

"House of the Dragon" returns next week after a strike-related delay, promising more of the blood, fire and power struggles that fans of the "Game of Thrones" universe have come to expect.

'Bad Boys' tops N.American box office in boost for Will Smith

Will Smith marked his first major film hit since his infamous Oscars slap as "Bad Boys: Ride or Die" debuted atop the North American box office, in a sign audiences are ready to welcome back the actor.

Reporters Without Borders head dies of cancer aged 53

Christophe Deloire, head of Reporters Without Borders (RSF), a Paris-based press freedom group, died on Saturday aged 53, the organisation said.

Sweden splashes out to save its unluckiest warship

Sweden is embarking on a colossal four-year project to safeguard a nearly 400-year-old warship that is the centrepiece of its famous Vasa Museum.

Hong Kong's visually impaired dragon boat team builds community

Slicing their oars through the dark-green waters of a Hong Kong river, a dragon boat team of visually impaired rowers paddled in unison as their coach yelled out instructions.

Italian opera celebrated in Verona's 'magical' Arena

Verona's ancient Roman Arena will host a star-studded classical concert Friday to celebrate the addition of Italian opera singing to UNESCO's list of intangible global heritage.

'Baby Reindeer' inspiration sues Netflix for $170 mn

A British woman who claims she was the inspiration for the stalker in the smash Netflix hit "Baby Reindeer" sued the streamer Thursday, demanding $170 million in damages.

Chanel breaks with designer Virginie Viard

French fashion house Chanel announced the departure of its artistic director, Virginie Viard, on Thursday, despite hitting record sales under her leadership.

From likes to votes: Croatia Gen Z influencer goes for EU seat

Nina Skocak's TikTok videos get hundreds of thousands of views and the young makeup and vintage fashion expert hopes her popularity will win her a seat in the European Parliament on Sunday.

Harry Potter offers magical boost to UK tourism

Sam Thorne guides Harry Potter fans through the gothic streets of Edinburgh, where controversial author JK Rowling dreamt up the boy wizard more than three decades ago.

AI tool creates deceptive Biden, Trump images, tests show

Tests on a leading AI tool allowed the creation of deceptive and incriminating images of President Joe Biden and Donald Trump, a watchdog said Wednesday, despite pledges to block fake photos of the presidential contenders ahead of elections in November.

French artist Ben takes own life after wife's death: family

French artist Ben, best known for his slogans in handwriting against a black background, has died aged 88, taking his own life just hours after the death of his wife with whom he had been married 60 years, his family said Wednesday.

TikTok says cyberattack targeted big names including CNN

TikTok on Tuesday said it slammed the door on a cyberattack that targeted high-profile accounts including CNN.

Dior heads to Scotland for latest 'cruise' show

Dior tapped into Scotland's traditions and rebellious streak late Monday, presenting its 2025 "cruise" collection, with punk tartan, chain mail and magical ball gowns.

Strange manuscript of Camus' 'The Stranger' up for auction

A handwritten manuscript of classic French novel "The Stranger" by Albert Camus goes up for auction on Wednesday -- a unique item since it appears to have been made after the book was published.

Netflix drama stirs complex past of Pakistan's 'courtesans'

The Netflix hit "Heeramandi" depicts the plush and powerful lives of courtesans in the 1940s, but there is little glamour for modern Pakistani sex workers in the faded red-light district where the series is set.

'Garfield' tops N. American box office, 'Furiosa' fades

"The Garfield Movie" triumphed at the North American box office in its second week of release, as "Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga' faded to third place, industry estimates showed Sunday.

Moscow nightlife unchanged despite Ukraine conflict

At a trendy restaurant in central Moscow, Russian data analyst Alexandra awaited her dessert, determined to carry on as usual despite the conflict in neighbouring Ukraine.

Orban's social media mouthpiece zeroes in on EU ahead of vote

Ahead of EU elections on June 9, a deluge of misinformation amplifying the Hungarian government's key talking points on the war in Ukraine has flooded the country's social media platforms.

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