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Bunker-cafe on Korean border paints image of peace

Reclining on sofas at a South Korean cafe, customers sip iced americanos as they gaze past barbed wire fences and watchtowers at the mountains of North Korea.

Swedish journalist's trial opens in Turkey

A Swedish journalist arrested on arrival in Istanbul to cover last month's massive street protests goes on trial Wednesday on charges of insulting Turkey's president, his lawyer said.

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Revamped Finnish museum says 'Good Bye, Lenin!'

Finland has opened a museum depicting how ties with its eastern neighbour Russia have gone from frosty to friendly and back, revamping what was until now western Europe's last Lenin Museum.

Greece to open museum of ancient undersea treasures

A new museum showcasing thousands of ancient archaeological artefacts found at sea will open next year at the Greek port of Piraeus near Athens, officials said on Monday.

Hollywood should resist Trump pressure, says director Todd Haynes

American film director Todd Haynes has urged the film industry to stand up to Donald Trump's new administration and warned about the danger of being "contaminated" by the radical changes underway in the United States.

Musk's DOGE seeks access to US tax system: reports

Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has sparked alarm by seeking access to a system with the US tax office that has detailed financial data about millions of Americans, US media reported.

'Conclave' and 'Brutalist' share BAFTA honours

Papal thriller "Conclave" and immigrant epic "The Brutalist" on Sunday emerged neck-and-neck at the BAFTA awards with each film picking up four coveted gongs.

Chinese cheer animated blockbuster's release abroad

Chinese fans of blockbuster film "Ne Zha 2" packed into cinemas in Beijing on Sunday, snapping selfies and queueing up for movie posters and other merchandise.

Austria celebrates 200 years of 'waltz king' Johann Strauss II

Even 200 years after the birth of Austria's world-famous "waltz king" Johann Strauss II -- widely revered like a modern-day pop star during his lifetime -- his music has lost none of its magic.

Tech weary Brits revive apple tree 'wassailing' tradition

"Wassail!" yelled the crowd. "Cider for everyone!" In an orchard by a Welsh castle, hundreds of people gathered to wish good health to the apple trees in a centuries-old tradition enjoying a revival.

Don't know who to vote for? Germany has an app for that: the Wahl-O-Mat

Voting can be confusing, especially for young people casting their ballots for the first time, but in Germany they have an app to guide them through the democratic ritual: the Wahl-O-Mat.

Global stars eye India, but show needs fine-tuning

With Coldplay and Ed Sheeran among the superstars who have played to packed-out crowds in India recently, there is increasing talk that the world's most populous nation could soon become a mainstay of the global touring schedule.

Musk and space travel skewered in S. Korean director Bong's latest

Interplanetary space travel and the vanities of tech billionaires like Elon Musk are the subject of acclaimed South Korean director Bong Joon Ho's satirical new film "Mickey 17" which will be shown at the Berlin film festival on Saturday.

Artists try to make Cameroon sing a different tune

In the hustle and bustle of Yaounde, Quartier Mozart is a unique artists' refuge, which its creator hopes will free Cameroonians from the "self-censorship" they say is fuelled by the political status quo.

Jay-Z, Sean Combs accuser drops sexual assault lawsuit

A woman who accused hip-hop stars Sean "Diddy" Combs and Jay-Z of sexually assaulting her when she was 13 dropped her civil lawsuit on Friday, court records showed.

Jim Morrison's footbridge: Paris to honour 1960s icon

Rock 'n' roll icon Jim Morrison, a towering figure of the 1960s psychedelic music scene, will have a central Paris footbridge named after him, the city has decided.

Iran's early recordings revive forgotten sound heritage

In a century-old building in Tehran, Saeed Anvarinejad turned the dial of a vintage radio to tune into some of Iran's earliest recorded sounds, some serving as reminders of the seismic changes that shaped the country's history.

Swinton lashes out as she receives Berlin festival award

British movie star Tilda Swinton lashed out at the "state-operated" crimes of "greed-addicted governments" as she received a special award on the first day of the Berlin Film Festival on Thursday.

PSG president Al-Khelaifi charged in French corporate abuse of power probe: source

French judicial authorities have charged the president of Paris Saint-Germain football club, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, with complicity in abuse of power concerning shareholder voting at a company, a source close to the case said Thursday.

Cinema can be a 'refuge', Berlin film festival director says

The new director of the Berlin film festival, Tricia Tuttle, spoke to AFP ahead of the opening, saying it would be an artistic "refuge" in the alarming age of Donald Trump.

New York, Paris, Berlin to mark anniversaries of iconic Christo art

New York, Paris and Berlin are celebrating the anniversaries this year of iconic art installations that saw some of their most prominent landmarks wrapped in fabric by the late artists known as Christo and Jeanne-Claude.

AP reporter again barred from Oval Office over 'Gulf of America'

An AP reporter Wednesday was barred from attending White House events for the second straight day, as Donald Trump's administration sought to justify its actions against media that refuse to call the Gulf of Mexico the "Gulf of America."

Shakira kicks off first world tour in seven years

Shakira launched her first worldwide tour in seven years from Rio de Janeiro this week for her latest Grammy-winning album "Las mujeres ya no lloran" (Women Don't Cry Anymore).

New 'Captain America' film flies into Trumpian headwinds

The latest in the Captain America film franchise which premiered in Hollywood Tuesday presents a vision of the United States out of step with the Trump era, with a diverse cast, a core message about unity and an endorsement of international diplomacy.

Chinese animated blockbuster breaks records, prompts patriotism

Animated Chinese blockbuster "Ne Zha 2", based on traditional mythology, has smashed multiple box office records on its way to becoming the country's most successful movie ever.

Fans snap up tickets for Black Sabbath reunion and Ozzy Osbourne's farewell gig

Fans of Black Sabbath on Tuesday snapped up the first tickets for the UK heavy-rock giants' one-off hometown gig, where the original line-up will perform for the first time in 20 years and frontman Ozzy Osbourne's will bow out.

Galeries Lafayette owner Ginette Moulin dies aged 98

The majority owner of the emblematic Parisian department store Galeries Lafayette, Ginette Moulin, has died aged 98, the company told AFP Tuesday.

'My own Apocalypse Now': 'White Lotus' returns with steamy Thailand romp

Frisky tourists, searing heat and monkeys: Thailand was the perfect setting for the new season of HBO's "The White Lotus" to explore the dark secrets and base desires of the jet-set class, its creator said Monday.

Elon Musk heads group trying to buy control of OpenAI: report

Elon Musk is leading an investment group offering $97.4 billion for the nonprofit that controls OpenAI, marking a new front in his war with the ChatGPT-maker, the Wall Street Journal reported Monday.

Kanye West's account on X goes dark after hate-filled rant

Kanye West's account on X has been deactivated after a days-long rant on the platform that included vitriolic, anti-Semitic outbursts.

Trump, Swift and the crushed Chiefs: Super Bowl highlights

Philadelphia's 40-22 Super Bowl victory on Sunday was marked by the presence of President Donald Trump, crowds booing Taylor Swift, and Kansas City's crushing loss.

Overflowing sewage stops Bryan Adams concert in Australia

Overflowing sewage caused by a "large blockage" of fat, grease and rags has forced organisers to cancel a Bryan Adams concert in Australia, citing a threat to the arena's toilets.

'Dog Man' holds N.America lead despite Super Bowl competition

"Dog Man," a superhero comedy from Universal and DreamWorks based on popular kids' novels, held its lead in North American theaters for a second straight weekend, earning an estimated $13.7 million, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations said Sunday.

'Anora' wins top Hollywood producer and director prizes

"Anora" was named the best film of the year by Hollywood's directors and producers on Saturday, cementing its new status as the film to beat at the upcoming Oscars.

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