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End of a love affair: news media quit X over 'disinformation'

News outlets have begun quitting X, formerly Twitter, once a favourite of global media but now accused of enabling the spread of disinformation under its owner, president-elect Donald Trump ally Elon Musk.

Jeff Beck guitar collection to go under the hammer in January

A collection of guitars and other musical equipment owned by influential rock guitarist Jeff Beck will go on sale in London in January, Christie's auctioneers announced on Friday.

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Film 'flips the angle' on iconic Thelonious Monk interview

Half a century after jazz great Thelonious Monk appeared on a French television program, a new documentary revisits outtakes from the 1969 interview to cast light on the racism and exploitation of black musicians.

Ticketmaster cancels public sale of Taylor Swift tickets

After days of glitches and long waits frustrated fans trying to buy Taylor Swift tickets during presale windows, Ticketmaster on Thursday said they were cancelling tomorrow's slated public sale.

Charlize Theron under fire over Afrikaans 'a dying language' comments

Oscar-winning actor Charlize Theron has sparked a firestorm in her native South Africa for suggesting that Afrikaans, a language descended from Dutch settlers, was heading for oblivion.

Axed Australian TV soap 'Neighbours' set for revival

Cult Australian soap opera "Neighbours" is to return to television screens next year after being cancelled by Britain's Channel 5, streaming site Amazon Freevee said Thursday.

Freud centenary exhibit reunites artist with closest friends

British artists Lucian Freud and Francis Bacon were friends for decades before a bitter falling out.

'Hardcore' or bust: Musk gives ultimatum to Twitter staff

Twitter's new boss Elon Musk has asked staff to choose by Thursday between being "extremely hardcore" and working intense, long hours, or losing their jobs, according to an internal memo seen by AFP.

Taylor Swift tour chaos spurs calls to probe ticketing industry

When Taylor Swift announced her first tour in five years, Jacob Landry couldn't wait to jump in line to see his favorite artist take the stage.

Jay Leno needed skin grafts after car fire: doctor

US talk show host Jay Leno required skin grafts for significant burns to his face and hands from an explosion involving a vintage car, and will undergo further surgery this week, his doctor said Wednesday.

Warhol nephew auctions two early works by pop art visionary

Two early Andy Warhol paintings were sold at auction in New York on Tuesday by the family of the pop art visionary, the first in a series of little-known works that will reach the art market, his nephew told AFP.

Praised abroad, controversial Pakistani movie 'Joyland' banned at home

The local screening of a Pakistan-produced movie portraying a love affair between a married man and a transgender woman hangs in the balance after the film was cleared by censors, then banned by the government under pressure from Islamists.

A bluffer's guide to Proust 100 years after his death

France's Marcel Proust, who died 100 years ago on Friday, is regarded as one of the greatest novelists of all time -- but few can truthfully claim to have read his 2,400-page masterpiece "In Search of Lost Time".

Billion youth risk hearing loss from headphones, venues: study

Around one billion young people worldwide could be at risk of hearing loss from listening to headphones or attending loud music venues, a large review of the available research estimated on Wednesday.

Spanish activists protest 'grotesque' fire bull festival

Writhing and grunting, a bull with burning balls of tar attached to its horns charged in the darkness in a small town in northern Spain.

North Macedonia violin maker pursues the perfect pitch

Unable to afford a violin for his then young son, Svetozar Bogdanoski took matters into his own hands and painstakingly crafted the instrument on his own.

Warhol nephew to auction two works by pop artist

Andy Warhol's nephew will put two works by his late pop artist uncle on the market for the first time Tuesday in New York, with both expected to sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars at auction.

US talk show host Jay Leno in hospital with burns

US comedian Jay Leno said Monday he has suffered serious burns from a gasoline fire after an accident involving one of his cars.

US talk show host Jay Leno in hospital with burns: media

US talk show icon Jay Leno has suffered serious burns to his face in an accident with one of his cars, entertainment media reported Monday.

Star French TV presenter faces legal complaint after insulting MP

A left-wing MP who was called a "shit" and a "buffoon" on air by one of France's best known chatshow hosts said Monday he would file a criminal complaint over the insults.

Earliest proof of cooking shows our ancestors liked well-done fish

Early human ancestors living 780,000 years ago liked their fish well-done, Israeli researchers revealed Monday, in what they said was the earliest evidence of fire being used to cook.

New Giacometti museum set for Paris in 2026

A new museum and school dedicated to artist Alberto Giacometti will open in Paris in 2026, bringing together the world's largest collection of his work, his foundation announced on Monday.

Iranian exile who got stuck for years in French airport dies

An Iranian who got stuck for 18 years in a Paris airport, inspiring a Steven Spielberg movie starring Tom Hanks died on Saturday at the terminal, an airport official said.

Chile's new star director Sebastian Lelio confronts fanaticism

Sebastian Lelio won an Oscar and helped change Chile's laws on transsexuals with one of his films. Now he is tackling the menace of fanaticism and fake news with the help of Hollywood's hottest young star, Florence Pugh.

British Airways allows all crew to wear make-up, accessories

British Airways will permit all cabin crew to wear make-up and accessories regardless of gender, as the UK airline seeks to become more inclusive, it said Friday.

Paul Allen's art collection sells for record $1.6 billion

An auction of paintings and sculptures from the collection of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen fetched a record $1.6 billion over two days, Christie's auction house said on Thursday.

Banned from education, 'idle' Afghan girls are married off

Thirteen-year-old Zainab should have been shopping for a new school uniform this autumn but, with no prospect of girls' schools reopening in Afghanistan, she was instead forced to pick out a wedding dress.

Netflix sets first live-streamed event with Chris Rock special

Netflix will stream an event live for the first time next year, with comedian Chris Rock hosting a real-time special for the on-demand platform that has lured millions of viewers away from traditional broadcast television.

Verstappen and Red Bull bury hatchet in Sky dispute

Max Verstappen confirmed on Thursday that he has buried the hatchet in his dispute with Sky Sports and said he and Red Bull will cooperate with the broadcaster as normal at this weekend's Brazilian Grand Prix.

What makes a great music documentary?

Colm Forde, co-founder of Britain's Doc'n Roll film festival, knows what makes a good music documentary.

Saudi light festival tries to sell public on arts push

Dazzling installations have been lighting up the Saudi capital, bringing a taste of the kingdom's push to become a global arts destination to ordinary Saudis -- not just habitual museum-goers.

Republican blowback at Trump after limited election gains

Donald Trump was hoping to surf a Republican "red wave" to a fresh White House bid, but with only limited gains in Tuesday's midterm elections -- and an outstanding result for his chief intraparty rival -- the former US president seems to be left out to sea.

Brazilian popular music legend Gal Costa dead at 77

Brazilian singer Gal Costa, whose crystalline voice and transgressive sensuality made her the muse of the groundbreaking "Tropicalia" movement in the 1960s, died Wednesday, her public relations agency said. She was 77.

Italy unearths exceptional haul of ancient bronzes

Italian archaeologists announced on Tuesday the extraordinary discovery of more than 20 bronze statues created over 2,000 years ago, almost perfectly preserved in the mud of hot springs in Tuscany.

Veteran French designer Philippe Starck now looks to space

Philippe Starck, the prolific French architect and designer who has made everything from lemon juicers to wind turbines, shows no sign of slowing down and is increasingly turning his eye to space.

Twitter takeover raises fears of climate misinfo surge

Climate deniers looking to block action and "greenwashing" companies could have free rein on Twitter after Elon Musk's takeover, analysts warned as leaders pursued anti-warming efforts at the COP27 summit.

Defectors seek alternatives to Musk-owned Twitter

Since Elon Musk took over Twitter, users irked by the platform's new regime have vowed to move their online presence elsewhere, with German-owned Mastodon attracting the most attention.

Jimmy Kimmel to return as Oscars host

Late-night comedian Jimmy Kimmel will host the Oscars for a third time, organizers said Monday, as Hollywood's biggest award show tries to leave behind the controversy still swirling around its most recent edition.

Myanmar hot-air balloon festival returns with a bang

Thousands of people have gathered in the hills of central Myanmar for the annual Tazaungdaing light festival that marks the end of the rainy season with a fiery nighttime display of exploding hot-air balloons.

India at 75: upending narratives and rewriting history

The palatial family home of India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, the freedom struggle stalwart and close confidant of Mahatma Gandhi, is now a museum where loyalists come to pay tribute.

Football influencer Luva named to Brazil squad in viral gag

Brazil coach Tite made a surprise early announcement for his World Cup squad Sunday, naming football influencer and internet sensation Luva to his team, in a gag video that went viral on social media.

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