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Chinese microdrama creators turn to AI despite job loss concerns

Ultra-short video series "Strange Mirror of Mountains and Seas" is filled with dragon-like monsters, handsome protagonists and plenty of melodrama -- almost all of it, including the lifelike human characters, created by artificial intelligence.

'Soap opera on cocaine': how vertical dramas flipped Hollywood

In a faux castle atop a Los Angeles hill, a small film crew with their cameras flipped sideways squeeze into a bedroom and shoot a raunchy affair scene, under the gaze of their Chinese producer.

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Manchester gives hometown heroes Oasis rapturous reception

Bathed in sunshine and feel-good vibes, 80,000 fans gave Oasis a hero's welcome on Friday as Manchester's favourite sons returned for their first hometown gig in 16 years.

Latest Grok chatbot turns to Musk for some answers

The latest version of xAI's generative artificial intelligence assistant, Grok 4, frequently consults owner Elon Musk's positions on topics before responding.

She's Electric: Manchester wired as 'Oasis Day' dawns

Bathed in sunshine and feel-good vibes, Oasis fans on Friday poured through the gates as Manchester's favourite sons returned for their first hometown gig in 16 years.

UNESCO adds Cameroon, Malawi sites to heritage list

Two cultural sites, in Cameroon and Malawi, were added Friday to the UNESCO World Heritage List, said the organisation, which has made boosting Africa's representation a priority.

Irvine Welsh takes aim at 'brain atrophying' tech ahead of new Trainspotting sequel

Scottish author Irvine Welsh on Friday described the new sequel to his cult novel "Trainspotting" as an antidote to a world full of "hate and poison", as he took aim at social media, the internet and AI.

Australia's Aboriginals ask UNESCO to protect ancient carvings site

A delegation of Australia's Aboriginal people has travelled to Paris to win UN backing for the protection of a heritage site back home they say is threatened by harmful mining.

Oasis return reminds world of when Manchester captured cultural zeitgeist

The return of the prodigal Oasis brothers to Manchester on Friday -- on the second leg of their highly anticipated reunion tour -- has rekindled memories of the city's time as a cultural epicentre.

'Impossible to sleep': noise disputes rile fun-loving Spain

Vibrant tapas bars and wild outdoor festivals define many outsiders' image of Spain -- but locals are increasingly fed up and mobilising against the din unleashed by their compatriots.

Slovakia festival hosting Kanye West cancelled after 'Heil Hitler' furore

The Slovakia festival due to welcome Kanye West next week has called off the event following the uproar over the US rapper's May release of a song glorifying Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.

Sara Netanyahu: the ever-present wife of Israel's prime minister

Whether dining opposite US President Donald Trump or accompanying her husband on an official Pentagon visit, Sara Netanyahu's front-row role in Washington this week has sparked fresh questions over her place in Israeli politics.

Rami Al Ali becomes first Syrian in Paris fashion programme

Syrian couturier Rami Al Ali made history Thursday as the first fashion designer from his country to feature in the official Paris Haute Couture Week calendar in a new landmark for Arab representation in the luxury business.

'Stuck in limbo': Over 90% of X's Community Notes unpublished, study says

More than 90 percent of X's Community Notes -- a crowd-sourced verification system popularized by Elon Musk's platform -- are never published, a study said Wednesday, highlighting major limits in its effectiveness as a debunking tool.

Demna to bow out at Balenciaga with farewell Paris fashion show

Provocative Georgian designer Demna will bow out after 10 years at Balenciaga on Wednesday during Paris Haute Couture Week before taking the reins at Gucci.

Wallabies' Lolesio faces long rehab after surgery

Wallabies flyhalf Noah Lolesio is almost certainly out of the British and Irish Lions series after undergoing neck surgery on Tuesday.

France backs returning colonial-era 'talking drum' to I.Coast

France's parliament on Monday approved returning to Ivory Coast a "talking drum" that colonial troops took from the Ebrie tribe in 1916, in the latest boost to the repatriation of colonial spoils.

'Jurassic World: Rebirth' roars to top of N.American box office

"Jurassic World: Rebirth" -- the latest installment in the blockbuster dinosaur saga -- stomped the July 4th weekend competition at the North American box office, raking in a whopping $91.5 million in its debut, industry estimates showed Sunday.

'Brilliant artist': Provocateur Demna takes on slumping Gucci

Celebrated, controversial and clearly up for a challenge, fashion designer Demna is set to step into one of the most difficult jobs in the luxury clothing industry next week as chief creative at struggling Gucci.

Hiroshima teens relay atom bomb horror with art

Trudging through the ruins of Hiroshima after the US atom bombing four days before in 1945, five-year-old Masaki Hironaka clutched his mother's hand and silently vowed to protect her.

Ozzy Osbourne brings curtain down as hometown goes wild for Black Sabbath

Heavy metal rocker Ozzy Osbourne brought down the curtain on his stellar career with Black Sabbath on Saturday, rattling through the band's most iconic songs in front of an adoring hometown crowd.

Australian actor Julian McMahon dies, aged 56

Australian actor Julian McMahon, known for his roles in television series "Charmed" and "Nip/Tuck", has died in the United States from cancer at the age of 56.

Ozzy Osbourne set for swansong at Black Sabbath hometown gig

Birmingham braced Saturday for wildman rocker Ozzy Osbourne's final ever gig as Black Sabbath's frontman, with thousands flocking to his UK hometown for a celebration of the heavy metal genre he helped to create.

UK rock legends Oasis kick off 'historic' comeback tour

British rock legends Oasis kicked off their hotly anticipated worldwide reunion tour in Cardiff on Friday, commencing an unlikely comeback few thought possible nearly 16 years after last performing together.

Oasis fans begin packing arena as 'historic' mega-tour kicks off in UK

Oasis fans began packing the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Friday, with just hours to go until the legendary Britpop band kick off a highly-anticipated reunion tour nearly 16 years after last performing together.

Oasis fans count down the hours until mega-tour kicks off in UK

Oasis fans flooded Cardiff on Friday as they counted down the hours to the legendary Britpop band kicking off a highly-anticipated reunion tour nearly 16 years after last performing together.

Germaine Acogny, promoting Africa as a beacon of dance

A group of performers stepped and swayed in the sand at an open-air studio on the Senegalese coast as Germaine Acogny, known as the mother of contemporary African dance, called out to them.

Oasis fans converge as mega-tour kicks off in UK

Tens of thousands of ecstatic Oasis fans descend Friday on Cardiff as the legendary Britpop band kicks off a highly anticipated reunion tour nearly 16 years after last performing together.

Peru clinic that leaked Shakira medical record given hefty fine

The Peruvian clinic that treated Colombian mega-star Shakira for an abdominal condition in February has been fined $190,000 over the leaking of her medical record, local health authorities announced Wednesday.

Sean Combs acquitted of sex trafficking, convicted on lesser charge

Music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs was found not guilty of racketeering and sex trafficking Wednesday but convicted of a less serious prostitution charge after a high-profile marathon trial in New York.

US senator urges bribery probe over Trump-Paramount settlement

A US senator renewed calls Wednesday for a bribery probe into Paramount following its reported $16 million settlement with President Donald Trump over a lawsuit the entertainment giant initially described as meritless.

Sean 'Diddy' Combs acquitted of sex trafficking, convicted on lesser charge

Music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs was found not guilty of racketeering and sex trafficking on Wednesday but convicted of a less serious prostitution charge after a high-profile seven week trial in New York.

Combs Trial: Day three of jury debate after partial verdict reached

Jurors in the trial of music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs head back into deliberations Wednesday, aiming to reach a unanimous decision on the case's most serious charge of leading a criminal organization.

Oasis: five favourite hits

Five best-loved classics from the bad boys of 1990s Britpop Oasis, who make their long-awaited comeback with a reunion tour kicking off in Cardiff on Friday.

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