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Trump fires librarian of US Congress

US President Donald Trump has fired the country's top librarian, his spokeswoman confirmed Friday, cutting short the term of the only woman and first African American to take on the role.

'Jumbo': the animated Indonesian film smashing records

An Indonesian animated movie is smashing regional box-office records and could be set for wider success as it prepares to open beyond the Southeast Asian archipelago's silver screens.

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Earliest proof of cooking shows our ancestors liked well-done fish

Early human ancestors living 780,000 years ago liked their fish well-done, Israeli researchers revealed Monday, in what they said was the earliest evidence of fire being used to cook.

New Giacometti museum set for Paris in 2026

A new museum and school dedicated to artist Alberto Giacometti will open in Paris in 2026, bringing together the world's largest collection of his work, his foundation announced on Monday.

Iranian exile who got stuck for years in French airport dies

An Iranian who got stuck for 18 years in a Paris airport, inspiring a Steven Spielberg movie starring Tom Hanks died on Saturday at the terminal, an airport official said.

Chile's new star director Sebastian Lelio confronts fanaticism

Sebastian Lelio won an Oscar and helped change Chile's laws on transsexuals with one of his films. Now he is tackling the menace of fanaticism and fake news with the help of Hollywood's hottest young star, Florence Pugh.

British Airways allows all crew to wear make-up, accessories

British Airways will permit all cabin crew to wear make-up and accessories regardless of gender, as the UK airline seeks to become more inclusive, it said Friday.

Paul Allen's art collection sells for record $1.6 billion

An auction of paintings and sculptures from the collection of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen fetched a record $1.6 billion over two days, Christie's auction house said on Thursday.

Banned from education, 'idle' Afghan girls are married off

Thirteen-year-old Zainab should have been shopping for a new school uniform this autumn but, with no prospect of girls' schools reopening in Afghanistan, she was instead forced to pick out a wedding dress.

Netflix sets first live-streamed event with Chris Rock special

Netflix will stream an event live for the first time next year, with comedian Chris Rock hosting a real-time special for the on-demand platform that has lured millions of viewers away from traditional broadcast television.

Verstappen and Red Bull bury hatchet in Sky dispute

Max Verstappen confirmed on Thursday that he has buried the hatchet in his dispute with Sky Sports and said he and Red Bull will cooperate with the broadcaster as normal at this weekend's Brazilian Grand Prix.

What makes a great music documentary?

Colm Forde, co-founder of Britain's Doc'n Roll film festival, knows what makes a good music documentary.

Saudi light festival tries to sell public on arts push

Dazzling installations have been lighting up the Saudi capital, bringing a taste of the kingdom's push to become a global arts destination to ordinary Saudis -- not just habitual museum-goers.

Republican blowback at Trump after limited election gains

Donald Trump was hoping to surf a Republican "red wave" to a fresh White House bid, but with only limited gains in Tuesday's midterm elections -- and an outstanding result for his chief intraparty rival -- the former US president seems to be left out to sea.

Brazilian popular music legend Gal Costa dead at 77

Brazilian singer Gal Costa, whose crystalline voice and transgressive sensuality made her the muse of the groundbreaking "Tropicalia" movement in the 1960s, died Wednesday, her public relations agency said. She was 77.

Italy unearths exceptional haul of ancient bronzes

Italian archaeologists announced on Tuesday the extraordinary discovery of more than 20 bronze statues created over 2,000 years ago, almost perfectly preserved in the mud of hot springs in Tuscany.

Veteran French designer Philippe Starck now looks to space

Philippe Starck, the prolific French architect and designer who has made everything from lemon juicers to wind turbines, shows no sign of slowing down and is increasingly turning his eye to space.

Twitter takeover raises fears of climate misinfo surge

Climate deniers looking to block action and "greenwashing" companies could have free rein on Twitter after Elon Musk's takeover, analysts warned as leaders pursued anti-warming efforts at the COP27 summit.

Defectors seek alternatives to Musk-owned Twitter

Since Elon Musk took over Twitter, users irked by the platform's new regime have vowed to move their online presence elsewhere, with German-owned Mastodon attracting the most attention.

Jimmy Kimmel to return as Oscars host

Late-night comedian Jimmy Kimmel will host the Oscars for a third time, organizers said Monday, as Hollywood's biggest award show tries to leave behind the controversy still swirling around its most recent edition.

Myanmar hot-air balloon festival returns with a bang

Thousands of people have gathered in the hills of central Myanmar for the annual Tazaungdaing light festival that marks the end of the rainy season with a fiery nighttime display of exploding hot-air balloons.

India at 75: upending narratives and rewriting history

The palatial family home of India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, the freedom struggle stalwart and close confidant of Mahatma Gandhi, is now a museum where loyalists come to pay tribute.

Football influencer Luva named to Brazil squad in viral gag

Brazil coach Tite made a surprise early announcement for his World Cup squad Sunday, naming football influencer and internet sensation Luva to his team, in a gag video that went viral on social media.

Tanzanian 'Tug of War' wins top prize at Carthage Film Festival

Tanzanian film "Tug of War", about love and politics during the final years of British colonial Zanzibar, has won the Tanit d'Or at Tunisia's prestigious Carthage Film Festival.

Duran Duran, Springsteen, Olivia Rodrigo kick off Rock Hall of Fame gala

Duran Duran kicked off Saturday's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with a rollicking medley of their top hits, opening the concert gala where Dolly Parton and Eminem are also set to enter the prestigious institution.

New season of 'The Crown' set to air after backlash

The latest season of "The Crown" hits the small screen next week, with streaming giant Netflix adding a disclaimer after a furore over untrue storylines.

Duran Duran reveals former member Taylor has stage 4 cancer

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was meant to serve as a reunion for 2022 inductee Duran Duran, but former member Andy Taylor was unable to attend, with the band revealing his cancer diagnosis during their onstage speech Saturday.

Twitter starts rolling out new paid subscription

Twitter began rolling out a controversial new paid subscription system on Saturday that the social network's unpredictable new owner, billionaire Elon Musk, ordered staff to build after taking over last week.

Singer Aaron Carter dead at 34: TMZ

Aaron Carter, the American singer who soared to fame at the turn of the millennium with his hit album "Aaron's Party (Come Get It)," died Saturday, TMZ said. He was 34 years old.

Surveillance 'existential' danger of tech: Signal boss

The mysticism that has allowed tech firms to make billions of dollars from surveillance is finally clearing, the boss of encrypted messaging app Signal told AFP.

Trump, eyeing 2024, doubles down on vote conspiracy theories

Kicked off Twitter and Facebook after his supporters stormed the US Capitol, Donald Trump eventually set up his own platform Truth Social, declaring in April 2022 after a stumbling launch: "I'm Back! #COVFEFE."

Twitter layoffs before US midterms fuel misinformation concerns

Twitter's new owner Elon Musk has pledged the platform will not devolve into a "free-for-all hellscape," but experts warn that mass layoffs on Friday may deeply impair the social network's ability to curb misinformation.

'We need to rebel': climate change needs radical response says XR activist

Soup on Vincent van Gogh paintings, mashed potatoes on a Monet masterpiece: climate activists are taking increasingly daring action to grab headlines -- and it's working.

The renaissance of the world's largest pipe organ

You've never felt Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor quite like this: in Atlantic City, the largest organ in the world is coming back to life.

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