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Rome's Trevi Fountain unveils tourist catwalk during cleaning

A suspended walkway providing tourists an up-close view of Rome's Trevi Fountain was unveiled Saturday, a temporary addition while the famous "La Dolce Vita" site undergoes a cleaning.

Beyonce leads Grammy nods after trailblazing country album

Beyonce and her groundbreaking "Cowboy Carter" album earned a leading 11 nominations for the Grammy Awards, the music industry's showcase gala, where she will face off against Taylor Swift and a new class of pop hitmakers.

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Hindu extremists target Muslim sites in India, even Taj Mahal

Thirty years after mobs demolished a historic mosque in Ayodhya, triggering a wave of sectarian bloodshed that saw thousands killed, fundamentalist Indian Hindu groups are eyeing other Muslim sites -- even the world-famous Taj Mahal.

Cars swapping vroom for volts in London garage

Tucked away in a workshop under a London Underground line, cars are undergoing a green metamorphosis as they shed their cylinders, spark plugs and pistons for electric engines.

New Scandinavian film wave rolls into Cannes

A new generation of Scandinavian filmmakers is making waves, following in the footsteps of Ingmar Bergman, Lars von Trier and the Dogme movement, with three directors in competition at Cannes this year.

Bolsonaro to meet Elon Musk in Brazil: government source

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is set to meet with billionaire Elon Musk on Friday, according to a government source.

Sisi-mania: Austria's starry empress returns to screens

She was the Princess Diana of the 19th century. An impossibly glamorous Austro-Hungarian empress whose star-crossed love life and tragic end entranced the public.

'Straight to your soul': Japan's taiko reinvents drum tradition

In a hall on Japan's Sado island, 71-year-old Yoshikazu Fujimoto strikes the imposing drum mounted before him, producing a boom so powerful that it reverberates through the floorboards.

McGregor return to 'Star Wars' inspired by love for 'difficult' prequels

When Ewan McGregor first played a lightsaber-wielding Jedi hero in the much-maligned "Star Wars" prequel trilogy, he didn't feel much love from the fans.

Johnny Depp's star was dimming because of 'unprofessional behavior': former agent

Johnny Depp's career and finances were already in serious trouble before his then-wife Amber Heard accused him of domestic violence in 2016, his former agent and business manager testified on Thursday.

'Chariots of Fire' and 'Blade Runner' composer Vangelis dies aged 79

"Blade Runner" and "Chariots of Fire" composer Vangelis, the Oscar-winning electronic music pioneer whose distinctive musical style defined a generation of film soundtracks, has died aged 79, Greece's prime minister said on Thursday.

Contemporary African art festival returns to Senegal

The 14th edition of the Biennale of Contemporary African Art, the continent's largest contemporary art event, opened Thursday in Senegal's capital with the top prize awarded to an Ethiopian painter.

'Blade Runner' composer Vangelis dead at 79

"Blade Runner" and "Chariots of Fire" composer Vangelis, the electronic music pioneer and sole Greek to win an Academy Award for best original score, died late Tuesday aged 79.

England footballers' wives libel spat ends with judgment reserved

A headline-grabbing libel case over an online spat between two England footballers' wives wrapped up on Thursday, after lifting the lid on tabloid double-dealing and the lives of the rich and famous.

Vangelis, musical child prodigy who composed iconic film scores

"Blade Runner" and "Chariots of Fire" composer Vangelis, the electronic music pioneer and sole Greek to win an Academy Award for best original score, has died at the age of 79.

Ukrainians show off colourful shirts to celebrate unity

Ukrainians donned colourful embroidered shirts on Thursday for a normally light-hearted annual celebration that this year is being viewed as a symbol of national unity against Russia's invasion.

Cancel Dostoevsky? Russian director calls for moderation

Russian movie director Kirill Serebrennikov on Thursday said that boycott of his country's cultural activities in reaction to the ongoing war in Ukraine were understandable, but could go too far.

Ukrainians at Cannes call for total Russian ban

Ukrainians at the Cannes Film Festival said Thursday that all Russians should have been banned from the event -- even those who have spoken out against the war.

Ukraine film-makers horrified by Top Gun jet display at Cannes

The roar of fighter jets over Cannes to welcome "Top Gun: Maverick" was far from welcome by the team behind a documentary about the Ukraine war, they said Thursday.

Russian ballet star 'followed conscience' to leave Bolshoi

Russian superstar ballerina Olga Smirnova quit the Bolshoi Ballet over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, but says the famed dance company will outlive the vagaries of war.

Goddesses and witches star in British Museum show

Alluring, warrior-like or nurturing, goddesses and other female spiritual beings from around the world are the focus of a new exhibition at the British Museum.

'No to war', Russian dissident director tells Cannes film fest

Celebrated Russian film director Kirill Serebrennikov came out against the war in Ukraine on Wednesday, telling the Cannes Film Festival that culture had a role in ending the conflict.

Tom Cruise brings his passion for big screen to Cannes

Tom Cruise gushed about his passion for cinema as he made his first visit in 30 years to the Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday for the launch of "Top Gun: Maverick".

'Top Gun' and Russian dissident fire up Cannes

Tom Cruise was set to jet into Cannes on Wednesday with "Top Gun: Maverick" as a Russian dissident in the main competition showcases an alternative side to the world's top film festival.

Albania's Soviet-era sub awaits its fate, refusing to sink

Retired sergeant Neim Shehaj spends his days repairing a Soviet-era submarine, a witness to Albania's tumultuous communist past that is now rusting, half-submerged, at an Adriatic naval base.

Senegal festival brings contemporary African art to the streets

Intriguing pyramids and a huge yellow dog have cropped up on the Senegalese capital's seafront.

Patriots and arias: Italian opera seeks UNESCO recognition

Opera originated in Italy, it was sung by Italian patriots and some of the world's greatest arias came from the peninsula. Now Rome wants credit where credit is due.

Egypt composer's star rises with 'Moon Knight' fame

For nearly 30 years, his music has made its way to every young Egyptian's ringtone -- but it's the country's ancient history that recently propelled composer Hesham Nazih to the realm of superheroes.

Algerian rapper Soolking plays Harlem's Apollo during debut US tour

As his merengue-inflected single "Suavemente" once again topped France's songs chart, Algerian rapper Soolking was stateside, delighting fans and wooing new followers with his blend of rap and Maghrebian folk music.

Twitter defends anti-bot efforts, Musk replies with poo emoji

Twitter's chief on Monday defended the messaging platform's battle against "bots" that aspiring buyer Elon Musk says vex the platform, only to have the billionaire respond with a poo emoji.

Amber Heard says trial is 'torture,' wants to 'move on'

Amber Heard testified on Monday that the multi-million dollar defamation suit filed against her by her former husband Johnny Depp is "torture" and she just wants him to leave her alone so she can move on with her life.

French city approves Muslim swimsuit in controversial change

The French city of Grenoble on Monday authorised the wearing of the so-called "burkini" by Muslim women in state-run swimming pools, reigniting one of France's most contentious debates on religous dress.

75th Cannes film fest ready to party as Covid rules end

The last touches were being laid in Cannes on Monday for the 75th anniversary edition of the world's leading film festival, promising a return to its full glitz.

French city rekindles burkini row with pool rule change

The Alpine city of Grenoble is set to reignite one of France's recurring summer debates on Monday when it votes to authorise the "burkini" in state-run swimming pools.

Facebook changing with times a decade after stock debut

Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg rang the opening bell remotely to cheers 10 years ago as the beloved social network made its stock market debut, culminating an all-night hackathon that included street hockey, costumes and music.

Amber Heard to return to witness stand as defamation trial resumes

Johnny Depp's ex-wife Amber Heard returns to the witness stand on Monday as the celebrity couple's bitter defamation trial resumes in a Virginia courtroom after a one-week hiatus.

'Doctor Strange' slips but stays atop N.America box office

Marvel and Disney's "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" saw a sharp dropoff this weekend from its blockbuster opening, but still reported $61 million in estimated ticket sales to top North America's box office, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations said Sunday.

Ukraine folk rappers boost war morale with Eurovision triumph

Ukraine won the Eurovision Song Contest Sunday with an infectious hip-hop folk melody, as the embattled nation rides a wave of public support across Europe.

Rapping, breakdancing Ukrainians win Eurovision in musical morale boost

Ukraine won the Eurovision Song Contest Sunday, riding a wave of public support across Europe for the embattled nation and buoyed by an infectious hip-hop melody.

Brazilian dance star's Bolshoi exodus brings him home

The day Russia invaded Ukraine, Brazilian dancer David Motta, then a leading soloist at the renowned Bolshoi ballet, knew he had to leave the country where he had lived half his life.

'It's a war': Russia's Pussy Riot on European tour to help Ukraine

Balaclava-clad members of Russian protest punk band Pussy Riot mounted the stage for a Ukraine benefit concert with a blunt message for the Berlin audience about Vladimir Putin: we told you so.

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