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Lost to history: Myanmar heritage falls victim to quake

When a massive earthquake hit Myanmar last month, centuries of sacred history tumbled down -- towering Buddha idols, sky-scraping stupas and the pure-white pagoda where 83-year-old Khin Sein has prayed for most of her life.

'Godfather' director Coppola bags lifetime achievement award

Multiple Oscar-winner Francis Ford Coppola picked up a lifetime achievement award on Saturday at a star-studded ceremony which praised his "fearless" attitude to filmmaking.

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Brazil judge orders Adele song be pulled globally

A Brazilian judge has ordered a song by British pop superstar Adele, "Million Years Ago," be pulled worldwide -- including on streaming services -- over an ongoing plagiarism claim by a Brazilian composer.

Indian tabla drum maestro Zakir Hussain dies aged 73

Indian musician Zakir Hussain, a four-time Grammy award winner credited with turning tabla drums into an instrument loved globally, has died at the age of 73, officials said Monday.

'Moana 2' surfs to 3rd weekend lead in N.America theaters

"Moana 2," the Disney sequel about the seafaring adventures of a courageous young Polynesian girl, topped the North American box office again in its third weekend out, taking in $26.6 million, according to industry estimates.

Voice of 'The Lion King' returns for Disney prequel

Born into poverty in apartheid-era South Africa and propelled to Hollywood heights, Lebohang Morake became the voice of Disney's classic film "The Lion King" with his powerful Zulu cry.

Herzog says 'stereotypical' AI inferior to human directors

Legendary German director Werner Herzog, known for his epic shoots and daring bets, fears nothing on the film set —- especially not artificial intelligence, which he tells AFP is "too stupid" to make good movies.

'Into the New World': the K-pop song that became South Korea's protest anthem

A cheerful song by one of the most successful K-pop girl groups has emerged as a protest anthem for thousands of South Koreans rallying for President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment.

Google renews push into mixed reality headgear

Google is ramping up its push into smart glasses and augmented reality headgear, taking on rivals Apple and Meta with help from its sophisticated Gemini artificial intelligence.

Nationalist minister tests Slovak culture, LGBT limits

Slovakia's Culture Minister Martina Simkovicova has sparked uproar by dismissing several heads of major cultural institutions and halting projects steered by LGBT+ associations under the pretext of promoting "Slovak culture".

Galliano says leaving Maison Margiela after 10 years

British designer John Galliano said Wednesday he was stepping down as creative director at Maison Margiela after 10 years at the helm of the French label.

Sundance unveils eclectic lineup for 2025

The prestigious Sundance festival released its wide-ranging lineup on Wednesday that will see Hollywood stars rubbing shoulders with up-and-coming filmmakers from all over the world.

Director Barry Jenkins finds echoes from his past in new Lion King

Oscar-winning director Barry Jenkins says he nearly turned down the chance to direct Disney's new blockbuster, a prequel to "The Lion King", before realising it contained many of the themes that helped make his name.

Coppola, Grateful Dead honored at arts gala bidding Biden farewell

Filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola was inducted into America's arts pantheon at Washington's Kennedy Center on Sunday, where directing greats Martin Scorsese and George Lucas paid tribute to the legendary auteur at the annual gala marrying politics and entertainment.

S. Korea Netflix mega hit 'Squid Game' premieres in Seoul after martial law

Squid Game is back. Netflix's most popular show ever, a dystopian South Korean vision of divided society, premieres its highly-anticipated second season on Monday as Seoul battles real-life policial chaos.

Taylor Swift delivers final performance in record-breaking 'Eras' tour

Taylor Swift took the stage in Vancouver on Sunday for the final show of her record-shattering "Eras" tour, a cultural phenomenon that has easily become the highest-grossing musical tour in history.

Jay-Z accused of raping teen with Diddy in civil suit: court filing

Musician and producer Jay-Z was accused in a lawsuit submitted Sunday of raping a 13-year-old with hip-hop star Sean Combs in the year 2000, court documents show, claims denied by Jay-Z.

'Lord of the Rings' gets anime makeover with 'War of the Rohirrim' film

No elves, no dwarves, and not a hobbit in sight: "The Lord of the Rings" returns to the big screen this month with a new Japanese anime-style movie about the warring men of J.R.R. Tolkien's fictional universe.

Notre Dame welcomes back public for mass after five-year refit

Newly restored Notre Dame cathedral held its first mass on Sunday, with Christians celebrating the return of the French capital's most famous place of worship after a historic re-opening ceremony.

'Moana 2' makes waves in 2nd week atop N.America box office

"Moana 2," the sequel to the animated Disney musical about a spirited Polynesian teenager who embarks on seafaring adventures, has topped the North American box office for a second week, according to industry estimates.

Coppola, Grateful Dead among honorees at glam Washington gala

Film legend Francis Ford Coppola and psychedelic rockers the Grateful Dead will be honored at a glitzy Washington gala Sunday along with blues singer Bonnie Raitt and jazz artist Arturo Sandoval.

Way up high: Dorothy's ruby slippers fetch record $32.5 mn

Ruby slippers worn by actor Judy Garland in "The Wizard of Oz" went under the hammer Saturday, and the winning price was over the rainbow -- a record $32.5 million, the auction house said.

UK retailers feed off public affection for festive ads

They come with big budgets, are wrapped in sentimentality and boost company revenues -- Britain's latest instalment of eagerly awaited Christmas television advertisements has a nation tuned in.

Taylor Swift's record-breaking 'Eras' tour set for final show

Taylor Swift's record-shattering "Eras Tour" is set to end on Sunday in Vancouver with the final performance of a cultural phenomenon that has easily become the highest-grossing musical tour in history.

French first lady helps keep Trump, Bidens apart at Notre Dame

French officials solved an awkward seating dilemma at the Notre Dame cathedral re-opening on Saturday by placing First Lady Brigitte Macron between US President-elect Donald Trump and Joe Biden's wife and daughter in the front row at the ceremony.

Notre Dame re-opens five years after fire

The archbishop of Paris re-opened Notre Dame cathedral on Saturday by symbolically knocking on the doors and entering the 12th-century landmark which has been restored after a devastating fire in 2019.

Notre Dame reopens five years after shocking blaze

Notre Dame will formally reopen Saturday five years after the Paris cathedral was devastated by fire, with US president-elect Donald Trump among world leaders there to celebrate its remarkably rapid restoration.

'Alien' star Weaver hates watching scary movies

"Alien" star Sigourney Weaver dislikes seeing "scary films" and tries to avoid them, she said in a television interview to air on Friday.

Eid festivities in north Nigeria make UNESCO heritage list

UNESCO on Thursday added a colourful parade of Nigerian knights on horseback celebrating Islam's two holiest holidays to its intangible cultural heritage list.

Germany repatriates colonial-era remains of indigenous Australians

Traditional funeral rites were held in Berlin Thursday for five indigenous Australians whose remains are to be sent home almost 150 years after they were pillaged during the colonial era.

EU steps up monitoring of TikTok ahead of Romania vote

The European Commission on Thursday said it had stepped up its monitoring of TikTok, after receiving information about possible Russian interference in Romania's presidential election.

Afghan TV station shut for working with 'exiled' media, 6 detained

An Afghan TV station has been shut down after its office was used for dubbing "vulgar" programmes for banned media, the Taliban morality ministry said on Thursday, with the channel's employees saying six people have been detained.

'Miracles' and controversies in Notre Dame's renaissance

The more than five-year reconstruction of Notre Dame cathedral has featured some near-miraculous recoveries, as well as several controversies.

New Natalia Lafourcade album celebrates music's onstage evolutions

A new live album from Grammy-winning Mexican singer Natalia Lafourcade offers an intimate glimpse into the artist's process, capturing a singular moment she says bridges to her next creative chapter.

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