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Prague cathedral's long-awaited organ to pipe up in 2026

Prague's St. Vitus Cathedral, a favourite feature of postcards from the Czech capital, is next year set to inaugurate a long-awaited organ that befits its Gothic splendour.

Humans can no longer tell AI music from the real thing: survey

It has become nearly impossible for people to tell the difference between music generated by artificial intelligence and that created by humans, according to a survey released Wednesday.

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War 'pain' to pastries: new path for Russia ex-diplomat in Uruguay

In Uruguay, thousands of kilometers from the war waged by her country of nationality on her country of birth, Ukrainian-born Russian diplomat Ekaterina Germanovich saw her life changed irrevocably by the conflict.

Presumed Beethoven skull fragments return to Vienna

Skull fragments, presumed to be from Ludwig van Beethoven, have returned to Vienna, where the legendary 19th century German composer was buried, experts said Thursday.

Spanish court opens new tax probe into singer Shakira

A Spanish court said Thursday it has opened a new probe into Colombian music superstar Shakira for alleged income tax fraud.

No stars? Comic-Con returns to roots as Hollywood strikes

A-listers are skipping this week's Comic-Con due to a historic Hollywood strike -- but while some ticketholders are disappointed, long-standing comic book fans are delighted to have their world-famous event back.

'Oppenheimer' a warning to world on AI, says director Nolan

The story of the invention of the atomic bomb told in the new film "Oppenheimer" is a "warning" to the world as we grapple with artificial intelligence, insists the movie's director Christopher Nolan.

Rapper's Delight as New York celebrates 50 years of hip-hop

From a display of Jay-Z lyrics on the facade of the Brooklyn Library to a concert of rap pioneers at Yankee Stadium, New York is celebrating 50 years of hip-hop, a genre born in its ghettos and now dominant around the world.

Netflix adds 6 mn subscribers after password crackdown

Netflix on Wednesday said subscriptions to the media streaming service climbed by nearly 6 million in the wake of its crackdown on password sharing.

Naples fetes Italy's great tenor Caruso with new museum

A century and a half after his birth, Italian tenor and opera legend Enrico Caruso is finally being celebrated by his hometown of Naples with a new museum.

EU digital chief urges TikTok to quickly adopt new rules

The European commissioner overseeing the digital market on Wednesday urged Chinese video-sharing platform TikTok to accelerate its adoption of new EU standards.

Filipino Barbie fans flock to see fantasy film

Hundreds of Filipino Barbie fans dressed in pink expressed joy and relief Wednesday at the opening of the film about the famous doll that many had feared would be banned.

Free divers find love and death in Netflix's 'Deepest Breath'

Early in "The Deepest Breath," an underwater drone follows free diver Alessia Zecchini as she plunges 100 meters down into the ocean's dark depths, and back up, all on a single breath.

Paris Titanic exhibition opens in shadow of explorer's sub disaster death

A major exhibition dedicated to the Titanic opened in Paris on Tuesday, with many of the objects on display brought up from the ship's wreck by a French deep-sea explorer who died in a submersible disaster last month.

'Let's go party!' Barbie readies to paint world pink

The world is about to be hit by a pink tsunami as "Barbie" -- Hollywood's ironic new take on the doll feminists once loved to hate -- opens with a vast marketing campaign.

Egypt union bans US rapper Travis Scott's pyramid concert

The Egyptian musicians' syndicate announced Tuesday it would not allow a planned concert at the Giza pyramids by US rapper Travis Scott, in a rare move citing offence to "traditions".

Unlikely hit 'Sound of Freedom' opens new front in US culture wars

With superhero movies, video-game adaptations and sequels bombing and getting panned by critics, Hollywood was braced for another disappointing year -- until an unheralded thriller about child trafficking upended industry expectations.

Taylor Swift sets women's record for most number one albums

Taylor Swift now has more number one albums than any other female artist in history following the recent release of "Speak Now (Taylor's Version)," Billboard said Monday.

London exhibition spotlights migrant business owners

From the co-founder of retail giant Marks & Spencer to the owners of a family-run Chinese takeaway, a new exhibition is showcasing migrant entrepreneurs and the role they played in moulding Britain.

'Call of Duty' to remain on Playstation

Tech giants Microsoft and Sony reached a deal to keep releasing the popular "Call of Duty" video games on the Playstation game console, Microsoft announced Sunday.

Jane Birkin, British-French celebrity and style icon, dies at 76

Jane Birkin, the British-born singer and actress who became a style icon in her adopted France, has died, a close source said on Sunday. She was 76.

'Stunning' cache of gold coins found in Kentucky cornfield

A trove of more than 700 gold coins dating back to the US Civil War found buried in a cornfield in the state of Kentucky is being put up for sale and is expected to reap millions.

Japan animator Miyazaki's first film in a decade released

Oscar-winning animator Hayao Miyazaki's highly-anticipated film -- his first feature in a decade and probably his last -- was released in Japan on Friday.

France awards AFP's Arman Soldin its highest order of merit

France posthumously awarded AFP video journalist Arman Soldin, who was killed while working in Ukraine, the Legion d'Honneur (Legion of Honour) on Thursday.

Afghan village potters keep centuries-old tradition alive

Twice a month, Noor Agha Faqiri lights up the kiln at his small workshop around 50 kilometres (30 miles) northwest of the Afghan capital to fire a fresh batch of pottery.

'We were duped' by studios, says Hollywood actor union president

Hollywood actors were "duped" into extending negotiations for two weeks by studios who wanted more time to promote their summer blockbuster movies, union president Fran Drescher told AFP on Thursday.

Spacey denies 'aggressive' behaviour in UK sex assault trial

Kevin Spacey said Thursday he was a "big flirt" but denied any "aggressive" behaviour as the Hollywood actor entered the witness box of his sexual assault trial in south London.

Hollywood actors poised for strike after studio talks end without deal

The union representing Hollywood actors said Thursday that crunch talks with studios to avert a major industry shutdown had ended without a deal, paving the way for a vote on the first actors strike in more than four decades.

Hollywood on knife-edge as deadline for actors strike passes

Hollywood actors on Thursday were left anxiously waiting for their union's decision on whether to strike, as the deadline in crunch talks with studios to avert a major industry shutdown passed without any announcement from either side.

Baldwin v Buckley: legendary US racism debate still has sting

It was a legendary debate about racism in the United States between two of the country's great minds. One a gay Black writer, the other a blue-blooded white dandy and leading thinker of the American right.

'Really hurtful': How LGBTQ disinformation ensnares Americans

Waving a rainbow flag, Desmond Napoles ambled through a confetti-soaked pride parade -- in defiance of a troubling disinformation campaign that sought to link LGBTQ Americans to pedophilia.

Ancient Egypt artists altered their work, study shows

From subtly shifting the position of Ramses II's sceptre, to touch-ups on a necklace or headdress, ancient Egyptian artists were more creative than previously thought, according to a study published Wednesday.

Huw Edwards named as BBC presenter at centre of explicit images row

Veteran news anchor Huw Edwards was on Wednesday revealed by his wife as the BBC presenter accused of paying for explicit images but police said no criminal offence had been committed.

'Succession' tops Emmy nominations with 27

"Succession," the HBO drama about an ultra-wealthy family fighting for control of a sinister media empire, led the nominations Wednesday for the Emmys -- television's version of the Oscars.

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