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Sahara celebrates desert cultures at Chad festival

In the heart of the Sahara, where the routes to Sudan and Libya cross, the Chadian city of Amdjarass has been transformed this week into an open-air celebration of desert culture.

Moscow chokes Telegram as it pushes state-backed rival app

Russia's internet watchdog on Tuesday announced it was throttling the Telegram messenger platform for alleged violations of Russian law, as Moscow tries to push Russians to use a more tightly controlled domestic online service.

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Italian fashion icon Giorgio Armani dead at 91

Italian fashion legend Giorgio Armani, king of a high-end lifestyle empire, has died at the age of 91 "surrounded by his loved ones", his company said Thursday.

French museum hit by 9.5 mn euro porcelain heist

Thieves snatched three porcelain works worth millions of euros and classed as national treasures in a heist at a French collection in the small hours of Thursday, the museum said.

France's Ozon under the gun with big screen take on Camus classic

French director Francois Ozon has dared to do what so many other filmmakers have shied away from -- adapting one of French literature's most-read classics, Albert Camus's "The Stranger", for the big screen.

Daniel Craig leads Hollywood stars to Toronto for 50th film fest

Hollywood stars arrived in Toronto Thursday for a celebratory 50th edition of North America's biggest film festival, with new movies from Daniel Craig, Sydney Sweeney and Matthew McConaughey among a packed lineup.

Immigration opposition fuels English national flag frenzy

Bitter debate about immigration in the United Kingdom has triggered a new trend of flying English and British flags in a vivid show of patriotism spearheaded in part by far-right figures.

'Pink and green' protests call for a reset in Indonesia

"RESET SYSTEM" reads graffiti above an intersection in the Javanese city of Yogyakarta, painted hastily in vibrant green and pink after deadly protests swept Indonesia last week.

NFL commissioner opens door for Swift Super Bowl performance

Pop icon Taylor Swift, recently engaged to Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce, is a definite "maybe" to perform at the Super Bowl, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell told NBC's Today show on Wednesday.

'Downton Abbey' stars tread red carpet for finale

The stars of "Downton Abbey" walked the red carpet in London Wednesday for one last time as the hugely successful English country house saga finally comes to an end.

New York's Met Opera unveils Saudi collaboration to boost finances

The Metropolitan Opera in New York announced Wednesday an agreement to perform in Saudi Arabia and provide artistic training in the oil-rich kingdom as it works to shore up a creaky financial outlook.

Gaza drama gets 23-minute ovation at Venice premiere

A gut-wrenching new film about a five-year-old girl killed by Israeli forces in Gaza last year was given a 23-minute standing ovation after its premiere at the star-studded Venice Film Festival on Wednesday.

Director Julian Schnabel hits out at boycott calls over Israel

US director Julian Schnabel has hit out at calls to boycott Scottish actor Gerard Butler who has been targeted by activists for his alleged previous support for the Israeli military.

Docu-drama gives 'voice' to Gaza victims at Venice Festival

A harrowing film that premiered at the Venice Film Festival Wednesday about a five-year-old girl killed by Israeli forces in Gaza last year gives a "voice and face" to Palestinian victims of the war, its director said.

Putin says not heard of Jude Law film portrait

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday he had not heard about "The Wizard of the Kremlin", a film starring Jude Law as the Russian leader that premiered at the Venice Film Festival.

Harrowing docu-drama gives 'voice' to Gaza victims at Venice Festival

A gut-wrenching film premiering at the Venice Film Festival Wednesday about a five-year-old girl killed by Israeli forces in Gaza last year gives a "voice" to Palestinian victims of the war, its director said.

Anger in Japan after Instagrammer drinks burial site offering

The Australian embassy in Japan issued a warning to travellers to behave themselves after an Instagrammer drank offerings from a Japanese burial site, provoking widespread anger online.

In Senegal, the last of Dakar's 'bubble homes' at risk

Marieme Ndiaye emerged from her igloo-shaped home in Senegal's capital, its 1950s space-age aesthetic in sharp contrast with the boxy, multi-storey apartments being built nearby.

Gaza war grief features in 'devastating' new film at Venice

A new film about the killing of a five-year-old Palestinian girl by Israeli forces in Gaza last year is set to screen at the Venice Film Festival on Wednesday, after drawing backing from Brad Pitt and Joaquin Phoenix.

Argentine couples win World Tango Championships

Dynamic Argentine duo Leandro Bojko and Micaela Garcia were crowned winners of the Stage category Tuesday, the final dance-off of the World Tango Championships in Buenos Aires.

Trump health misinformation swirls despite denial

From manipulated images to out-of-context photos, false claims that Donald Trump is seriously ill -- or even dead -- have swirled online, with the misinformation persisting even after the US president publicly rejected it on Tuesday.

Paramount to make live-action 'Call of Duty' movie

Paramount, the Hollywood studio recently acquired by the software billionaire Ellison family, will make a movie based on the wildly popular "Call of Duty" video games, it announced Tuesday.

Scrap nukes, director Bigelow urges in new thriller at Venice

The world needs to be "more informed" and reduce its nuclear stockpile, US director Kathryn Bigelow said on Tuesday ahead of the premiere of her latest film, about an imminent strike on the US.

Two held as Argentina hunts for Nazi-looted painting

Argentine police are investigating a deceased Nazi's daughter and son-in-law after a 17th century painting stolen from a Dutch Jewish art collector was recently spotted in a property ad before promptly disappearing.

Sofia Coppola's love letter to Marc Jacobs debuts at Venice

The Venice Film Festival welcomed one of fashion's biggest names on Tuesday, Marc Jacobs, protagonist of a Sofia Coppola documentary that seeks to unveil the creative process of her designer friend.

Scrap nukes, urges director Bigelow with new thriller at Venice

The world needs to be "much more informed" and reduce its nuclear stockpile, US director Kathryn Bigelow said Tuesday as the Oscar winner's latest film about an imminent strike on the United States was set to premiere at the Venice Film Festival.

Madagascar receives skull of king beheaded by France

Madagascar marked at a ceremony Tuesday the return from France of the skulls of three men killed by French troops 128 years ago, including one believed to be that of a decapitated king.

French actor Depardieu ordered to stand trial for rape

A French investigating judge has ordered cinema icon Gerard Depardieu to stand trial on charges of raping and sexually assaulting actor Charlotte Arnould in 2018, sources close to the case and a lawyer said Tuesday.

Gus Van Sant in six films

After seven years away, US filmmaker Gus Van Sant returns with a new film screening out of competition at this year's Venice Film Festival, where he will also collect a lifetime award.

From novelist to influencer: the many sides to Albert Camus

The premiere of "The Outsider" at this year's Venice Film Festival brings to the screen one of the world's most read novels, penned by French author Albert Camus, a star in his day and now.

French colonial legacy fades as Vietnam fetes independence

Crispy banh mi baguettes, grand colonial facades, and chattering Francophone schoolchildren are lingering reminders of the French presence that once dominated Vietnam.

Nolan's 'Odyssey' script is 'best I've ever read,' says Tom Holland

With "The Odyssey" and a new "Spider-Man" film, next summer looks set to be the summer of Tom Holland -- and the famously boyish and ebullient star can hardly contain his excitement.

Nazis, cults and Sydney Sweeney: Hollywood heads to 50th Toronto fest

The Toronto International Film Festival kicks off Thursday, with Hollywood stars Russell Crowe, Sydney Sweeney and Daniel Craig bringing hotly anticipated world premieres to the 50th edition of North America's biggest movie event.

Venice heralds Hitchcock heroine Novak with lifetime achievement award

The Venice Film Festival celebrated Hollywood actress Kim Novak on Monday, bestowing a lifetime achievement award to the reluctant star and platinum blonde heroine of Alfred Hitchcock's "Vertigo", now 92.

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