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Finland's colossal bomb shelters a model for jittery Europe

Swimming pools, playgrounds and amusement parks: Finland's underground facilities, which can double as bomb shelters, have emerged as an inspiring approach as Europe ramps up preparedness after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Experts warn 'AI-written' paper is latest spin on climate change denial

Climate change deniers are pushing an AI-generated paper questioning human-induced warming, leading experts to warn against the rise of research that is inherently flawed but marketed as neutral and scrupulously logical.

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Adrien Brody breaks longest Oscars speech record

Adrien Brody broke the record for the longest ever Oscars acceptance speech, clocking a whopping five minutes and 40 seconds on stage upon winning best actor for his role in "The Brutalist."

LA Times adds AI-generated counterpoints to opinion pieces

The Los Angeles Times said Monday it was adding AI-generated counter-arguments to opinion pieces to help readers grasp differing points of view.

AI firm Anthropic valued at $61.5 bn in funding round

Anthropic on Monday announced it has raised $3.5 billion in a funding round that valued the artificial intelligence startup at $61.5 billion.

Trends from Milan Fashion Week: Belts and 50 shades of grey

Milan Fashion Week might be over, but the trends to stay elegant and stylish next winter have been revealed. The general mood of the week was quiet luxury, in line with the last few seasons, where quality materials were paired with everyday essentials.

Lights out for landmark Hong Kong theatre

A landmark Hong Kong venue that became synonymous with Cantonese opera for more than half a century closed its doors in the early hours of Tuesday, with hundreds gathering to watch its neon signs going dark.

Police, art sleuth crack case of Brueghel stolen in Poland in 1974

With the help of a well-known art detective and arts magazine journalists, Dutch police say they have cracked the case of the mysterious disappearance of a Brueghel painting from a Polish museum 50 years ago.

Toasts to LA and consolation drinks flow backstage at Oscars

At the Oscars all eyes tend to focus on the winners, but backstage can be a lot more fun if you're out of the running.

Conan, Gaza and Hackman: top moments from the Oscars

Hollywood's biggest night of the year was its usual festival of glitz, humor, emotional actors and some overly-long speeches.

Oz, Bond and Quincy Jones: Oscars a musical ode to film icons

The Oscars gala traditionally features performances of all the tracks nominated for best original song -- this year, the ceremony on Sunday bucked norms, but musical numbers still punctuated the show.

Pakistan's old English manners spell youth Scrabble success

"Dram", meaning a measure of whisky. "Turm", describing a cavalry unit. "Taupie", a foolish youngster.

Kieran Culkin: from child actor to Oscar winner

Kieran Culkin on Sunday capped a remarkable year by winning the Oscar for best supporting actor for his work in "A Real Pain," a bittersweet look at family, friendships and Jewish loss stemming from the Holocaust.

Rio kicks off Carnival parades with Oscars glory on minds

Rio de Janeiro held the first day of its famous Carnival samba parades Sunday -- with many attendees also eying activities all the way in Hollywood, where Brazil could take home its first Oscar.

Chile technical woes prompt latest Shakira concert postponement

Colombian superstar Shakira has had to postpone another concert, this one set for Sunday in Chilean capital Santiago, due to "technical problems," the event's producers announced.

Blatter and Platini back in Swiss court in long-running legal saga

Sepp Blatter, the former head of FIFA, and Michel Platini, the ex-president of UEFA, will be back in a Swiss court on Monday for another examination of the charges of fraud that knocked them off the summits of global football.

Indonesians swindled by scams using President Prabowo deepfakes

Wearing a traditional Indonesian black hat and shirt, President Prabowo Subianto speaks to the camera in an Instagram video, asking his people how he can help them after his election last year.

Colourful Angolan carnival celebrates half century independence

Their sweat-stained faces lit only by a dim yellow bulb in a neglected corner of the capital Luanda, revellers sway their hips to the sound of a catchy beat on the eve of the annual Angolan carnival.

Brits turn brat as Charli XCX wins big at UK pop music's special night

Pop sensation Charli XCX turned the Brit Awards into the brat awards on Saturday as she claimed five gongs at the annual celebration of UK music.

Sydney Mardi Gras celebrates inclusion in sea of glitter and feathers

Thousands of scantily clad revellers danced through Sydney on Saturday for the 47th annual Mardi Gras parade, transforming the Australian city into a vibrant sea of colour and costumes.

Who will win the Oscar? The 10 best picture nominees

Sunday's Oscars gala looks set for a nail-biting finale, with "Anora" and "Conclave" equally tipped by pundits to win best picture after a twisty awards season in which favorites have swiftly risen and spectacularly faltered.

Intel slows $28 bn chip factory project in Ohio

Struggling US chip maker Intel on Friday pushed out the timeline for completing two new fabrication plants in Ohio, saying it is taking a prudent approach to the $28 billion project.

Gene Hackman had likely been dead nine days when found: sheriff

Hollywood legend Gene Hackman had likely been dead for over a week when he and his wife were found lifeless in their New Mexico home, the local sheriff said Friday.

Police probing 'suspicious' deaths of Hollywood giant Gene Hackman, wife

Authorities will provide on Friday an update about their investigation into the deaths of Oscar-winning cinema giant Gene Hackman and his wife, who were found dead in their home in circumstances police are calling "suspicious."

Avowed misogynist Andrew Tate in US despite rape charges in Romania

Andrew Tate, a right-wing influencer charged with rape and human trafficking in Romania, arrived in the United States on Thursday -- the first time he has been out of the eastern European country since his 2022 arrest.

Cat tale 'Flow' goes from underdog to Oscar nominee

The international success of "Flow", an animated Latvian film about a cat's quest to escape rising waters, has taken its director by surprise.

Meta plans stand-alone AI app: report

Meta plans to add an artificial intelligence app to its stable of stand-alone offerings including Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp, according to a report Thursday by CNBC.

Hollywood giant Gene Hackman, wife found dead in 'suspicious' circumstances

Oscar-winning cinema giant Gene Hackman was found dead Wednesday alongside his wife, in an incident that police are reportedly calling "suspicious."

How did this man's brain turn to glass? Scientists have a theory

A young man was lying in his bed when a viciously hot cloud of ash swept down from the erupting Mount Vesuvius and turned his brain to glass almost 2,000 years ago.

Peppa Pig to get new sibling

The animated television character Peppa Pig, famed for her love of jumping up and down in muddy puddles, is to have a new brother or sister, the character's mother announced on Thursday.

Influencer Andrew Tate facing charges in Romania leaves for US

Andrew Tate, a right-wing influencer facing charges of human trafficking and rape in Romania, left for the United States on Thursday, the first time he has been out of the eastern European country since his 2022 arrest.

Hollywood giant Gene Hackman and wife found dead at home

American cinema giant Gene Hackman was found dead Wednesday alongside his wife, following a rich career portraying everyman characters with an edge in films including "The French Connection."

Oscar-winning US actor Gene Hackman, wife found dead at home: media reports

Oscar-winning US actor Gene Hackman and his long-time wife Betsy Arakawa have been found dead inside their home in New Mexico, media outlets reported on Thursday.

Banksy v Banksy: rival exhibits face off in Serbian capital

In a city famed for graffiti and murals, rival exhibitions in Belgrade showcasing the impact of British street artist Banksy have led to a colourful debate over the commercialisation of street art.

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