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Oscars group picks 'A Star is Born' producer as new president

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences elected "A Star is Born" film producer Lynette Howell Taylor as its new president, the group behind the Oscars said Thursday.

Apple profit beats forecasts on strong iPhone sales

Apple on Thursday reported quarterly profit of $23.4 billion, topping forecasts despite concerns about the effect of US tariffs on its supply chain.

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US theater and opera auteur Bob Wilson dead at 83

Celebrated US theater auteur Bob Wilson, who revolutionized stage and opera, died Thursday at the age of 83 after a short illness, his management said.

Seals sing 'otherworldly' songs structured like nursery rhymes

When male leopard seals dive down into icy Antarctic waters, they sing songs structured like nursery rhymes in performances that can last up to 13 hours, scientists said Thursday.

Rights groups urge Nepal to reverse Telegram ban

Rights groups on Thursday urged Nepal to reverse a ban on the Telegram messaging app, calling the move a serious threat to freedom of expression and digital privacy.

Puppet ban in Indonesian capital threatens buskers

In the sweltering streets of Jakarta, buskers carry towering, hollow puppets and pass around a bucket for donations. Now, they fear becoming outlaws.

Meta beats expectations sending share price soaring

Meta reported robust second-quarter financial results Wednesday, with revenue jumping 22 percent year-over-year to $47.5 billion as the social media giant continues investing heavily in artificial intelligence.

Michael Jackson's dirty sock sells for over $8,000 in France

A single glittery sock that late pop superstar Michael Jackson wore during a concert in France in the 1990s sold for more than $8,000 on Wednesday, a French auctioneer said.

India secures return of ancient Buddhist gems

India has recovered a set of relics linked to early Buddhism more than a century after they were removed from the country during the British colonial period, officials said Wednesday.

France's Luc Besson resurrects new 'romantic' Dracula

As a director with no affection for the horror genre, France's Luc Besson has made a new version of "Dracula" with American actor Caleb Landry Jones in the principal role as a lovelorn incarnation of the famous vampire.

Thousands honour Ozzy Osbourne at UK hometown funeral procession

Thousands lined the streets of UK city Birmingham on Wednesday to pay an emotional farewell to hometown hero Ozzy Osbourne as the heavy metal hellraiser was laid to rest.

French govt prepares new law to return colonial-era art

France's government on Wednesday discussed a bill designed to speed up the return of artworks looted during the colonial era to their countries of origin, officials said.

Italy opens probe into Meta over AI tool in WhatsApp

Italy said Wednesday it opened a probe into social media giant Meta for potentially breaking EU competition laws by installing its AI tool into WhatsApp.

Thousands of carpets sunbathe at Turkish resort

Thousands of carpets and kilim rugs spread out in the sun form a festive and kaleidoscopic patchwork on the outskirts of Antalya, a coastal tourist city in southern Turkey.

UK's Birmingham to bid final farewell to hometown hero Ozzy Osbourne

Heavy metal hell-raiser Ozzy Osbourne will be laid to rest on Wednesday, with thousands set to bid the legendary musician a final farewell when his funeral cortege drives through his UK hometown.

'Happy people': folk festivals punctuate Greek summer life

It's midnight in the Aegean Sea but on the Greek island of Ikaria, in the courtyard of the church of St Elijah, the revelry was barely getting started.

Telegram's Durov questioned in France over alleged illegal content on app

Telegram founder Pavel Durov faced questioning by investigating magistrates in Paris on Monday about the platform's alleged complicity in criminal activity, sources close to the case said.

Honkytonk Kenya: Africa's home of country music

The party is in Kenya, but the vibe is distinctly Americana: a sea of cowboy hats and boots with a soundtrack of whisky-soaked tales about heartbreak and good ol' boys.

George Lucas brings the force to Comic-Con in historic first visit

Comic-Con fans pulled out their lightsabers Sunday to welcome "Star Wars" creator George Lucas to the prominent pop culture convention for the very first time.

'Fantastic Four' wins battle of heroes at N. America box office

"The Fantastic Four: First Steps," Disney's hotly anticipated reboot of the Marvel Comics superhero franchise, conquered the North American weekend box office, earning $118 million and sidelining "Superman," industry estimates showed Sunday.

Godzilla fans fete the monster as it turns 70

Godzilla has morphed over the years, but one constant is the devotion of its fans, who celebrated the Japanese monster's 70th anniversary at the pop culture convention Comic-Con.

'Project Hail Mary' sends Ryan Gosling, and Comic-Con, into outer space

Comic-Con attendees got their first glimpse Saturday at the new sci-fi space thriller "Project Hail Mary," starring Ryan Gosling, ahead of its arrival in US theaters in March 2026.

'Alien' lands at Comic-Con

The highly anticipated science fiction series "Alien: Earth" officially landed at Comic-Con in California on Friday, where thousands of fans watched the pilot of a new TV series in the franchise.

Meta to ban political ads in EU due to bloc's 'unworkable' rules

Meta on Friday said it will be forced to ban political advertising on its platforms in the European Union from October because of rules the Facebook and Instagram owner called "unworkable".

'Star Wars' creator George Lucas to hit Comic-Con for first time

Comic-Con kicks off Thursday in San Diego, California, with expectations running high among devoted fans keen to catch a glimpse of George Lucas at his first-ever appearance at the convention.

Google-parent Alphabet earnings shine with help of AI

Google-parent Alphabet on Wednesday reported quarterly profits that topped expectations, saying artificial intelligence has boosted every part of its business.

Doctor pleads guilty to supplying Matthew Perry with ketamine

A doctor charged in connection with the drug overdose death of actor Matthew Perry pleaded guilty Wednesday to supplying the "Friends" star with ketamine.

Doctor who supplied drugs to 'Friends' star Matthew Perry pleads guilty

A doctor who supplied Matthew Perry with ketamine pleaded guilty on Wednesday in connection with the 2023 drug overdose death of the "Friends" star, US media reported.

Ozzy Osbourne's home city hails star who 'lived life in rock n' roll'

"RIP Ozzy", "Thank you for the music". Fans gathered in Ozzy Osbourne's home city Wednesday to pay homage to the heavy metal music icon.

Texas's Alamo honors Ozzy despite notorious urination incident

Ozzy Osbourne was a pioneering musician but the Black Sabbath frontman was perhaps best known in the mainstream for his antics -- including offending all of Texas when he drunkenly urinated on the US state's monument to its fallen Alamo heroes.

National Ballet of Japan to make UK debut

The National Ballet of Japan makes its debut at the London Royal Opera House on Thursday, pirouetting into a void left when Russia's Bolshoi Ballet was cancelled over the war in Ukraine.

Tributes flood in for Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne

Tributes poured in Wednesday for hell-raiser singer Ozzy Osbourne as tearful fans laid flowers in his hometown and his Black Sabbath bandmates mourned the death of their legendary heavy metal frontman, just weeks after he played an epic farewell concert in their Birmingham hometown.

Versailles orchestra plays New York in 'Affair of the Poisons'

Acrobatics, fortune tellers, opulent gowns and palace intrigue: the New York debut of the Versailles Royal Opera Orchestra was a performance befitting the era it recalls.

Ozzy Osbourne: key dates

Key dates in the life of legendary British heavy metal rocker Ozzy Osbourne, who died Tuesday at the age of 76 after a battle with Parkinson's disease:

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