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21 films vie for Venice festival's top prize

A heart-wrenching docudrama about the Gaza war, a wrestling-themed love story starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and a darkly satirical South Korean thriller are among 21 films vying for the top prize at the Venice Film Festival on Saturday.

Sydney Sweeney details preparation to play female boxer

At Friday's premiere of "Christy," a gritty biopic of US female boxing pioneer Christy Martin, the film's star Sydney Sweeney declined to address her recent jeans ad controversy that caused a firestorm online.

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JLo cancels summer tour as Affleck split rumors swirl

Jennifer Lopez said Friday she was cancelling her summer tour to spend more time with her family as rumors circulate over a split with actor-husband Ben Affleck.

Florida 12-year-old triumphs at US spelling bee

Mastering words such as "cricetine" and "indumentum", 12-year-old Bruhat Soma clinched victory Thursday in the United States' spelling bee.

Whistles at dawn: birdsong duels enthral Afghans

Just after sunrise on the Afghan day of rest, two goldfinches puffed their chests and belted a song, surrounded by men straining to hear which chirped stronger in an age-old pastime.

UK's Royal Mail buyout: Who is Czech billionaire Kretinsky?

A billionaire with interests in football clubs, media outlets, supermarkets and now the potential new owner of Britain's Royal Mail, Czech Daniel Kretinsky retains a stubbornly low profile internationally.

Rome museum gives stolen artefacts their due

Antiquities recovered after being looted in Italy and sold on the global black market have found their sanctuary in the heart of Rome.

Pakistan's Sufi festivals reclaim spirit after violence

Rhythmic drums and spirited dancing are once again bringing life to the shrines of Pakistan's saints, where festivals were long stifled by jihadist violence.

Colombia congress passes bill banning bullfighting

Colombia's congress passed a bill Tuesday banning bullfighting, a controversial yet popular pastime in the South American country with hundreds of events drawing thousands of spectators every year.

'Saving Private Ryan' returns to French cinemas for D-Day anniversary

Steven Spielberg's D-Day epic "Saving Private Ryan" will be shown in around 300 French cinemas on June 6, the massive World War II operation's 80th anniversary, studio Paramount has said.

Spain unveils 'lost Caravaggio' that nearly sold for a song

A painting by Italian master Caravaggio, once mistakenly thought to be by an unknown artist and nearly auctioned off for a song, was unveiled at Madrid's Prado Museum on Monday.

Beirut design fair reborn after four years of economic crisis

A Beirut design fair has made a comeback after Lebanon's economic meltdown forced a four-year hiatus, with some pieces on display in spaces devastated in a deadly 2020 port explosion.

'Garfield' and 'Furiosa' battle in weak N.America box office

"The Garfield Movie" and "Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga" battled for the top spot in North American theaters over the long US holiday weekend, but it was still a rough Memorial Day at the box office, industry estimates showed Sunday.

The slasher in middle age: 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre' hits 50

It was shot quickly on a limited budget with unknown actors wearing the same sweat-soaked outfits for weeks on end.

Richard Sherman, songwriter behind Disney hits, dead at 95

Richard Sherman, the writer behind songs in classic Disney movies such as "Mary Poppins" and "The Jungle Book" died Saturday at the age of 95, the film and entertainment company said.

Sean Baker: chronicler of sex work, Palme d'Or winner

Sean Baker, who won the Cannes Film Festival's top prize on Saturday, has spent a career chronicling the lives of sex workers and porn stars.

US rapper Nicki Minaj detained in Netherlands: media

US rapper Nicki Minaj has been detained at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport on suspicion of possessing soft drugs, Dutch media reported Saturday.

The winners at the 77th Cannes Film Festival

The 77th edition of the Cannes Film Festival ended Saturday in the south of France with the awarding of its top prize, the Palme d'Or. Here is a list of the winners:

Erotic dancer comedy-drama wins top prize at Cannes

"Anora", a raw, highly explicit and often hilarious story about a New York erotic dancer, was crowned with the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival on Saturday.

Iran's fearless filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof: from prison to Cannes

He perfected his trade in Iran's prisons, and now Mohammad Rasoulof has received a special jury prize at Cannes, confirming him as one of the world's most powerful and fearless filmmakers.

Awards night kicks off at politically charged Cannes

A jury led by Greta Gerwig prepared to crown the winner of the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival on Saturday after a politically charged 77th edition packed with blood, sex and powerful feminist messages.

Rasoulof: how I learned to beat Iran's secret police

Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof, who escaped Iran to premiere his new film at the Cannes Film Festival Friday, told AFP it takes 20 years of training to learn to make a good clandestine film.

Lucas on 'Star Wars' critics, diversity, and sneaking into Cannes

George Lucas told Cannes on Friday how he had to sneak into his own first premiere at the French film festival and explained why "Star Wars" movies have always been for kids.

Eiffel Tower ticket prices to rise by 20 percent

Paris city hall on Friday voted to increase the Eiffel Tower adult admission price by 20 percent from next month to help pay for urgent renovation work.

Swiss return three confiscated artefacts to Iraq

Switzerland's foreign minister on Friday returned to her Iraqi counterpart three important Mesopotamian objects seized during a criminal procedure, the Swiss government said.

'Super Size Me' filmmaker Morgan Spurlock dies of cancer aged 53

Morgan Spurlock, the acclaimed filmmaker behind the hit 2004 documentary "Super Size Me," has died aged 53 of complications from cancer, his family announced Friday.

China back at Cannes with women's rights blockbuster

One of China's biggest-ever productions, "She's Got No Name", premieres in Cannes on Friday, bringing megastars like Ziyi Zhang to the red carpet as well as the thorny issue of women's rights.

'Palme d'Or whisperer': Tiny US studio Neon eyes fifth Cannes prize

Could a tiny movie studio founded seven years ago win the Cannes Film Festival's top prize for a stunning fifth consecutive time?

US seeks to break up Live Nation, Ticketmaster over alleged monopoly

The US Department of Justice filed a major antitrust lawsuit Thursday seeking to break up an alleged monopoly in the live music industry between concert promoter Live Nation Entertainment and its subsidiary, bookings website Ticketmaster.

French media progress against X in legal battle over payments

A Paris court ruled Thursday that X needed to provide French media with information about how much money it makes from publishing their content as part of a legal battle over rights payments.

Argentina's Milei sings hard rock at book launch

In a tie and leather jacket, Argentina's President Javier Milei rocked out in front of thousands of fans during the launch of his latest economics book in Buenos Aires Wednesday night.

Cannes film tracks dilemma of stranded Palestinian refugees

A stressful refugee drama screening in Cannes shines light on the Palestinian plight and the excruciating moral choices migrants have to make to help loved ones start a new life abroad.

S. Korea 'monk' DJ ditches robe to avoid Singapore ban

A controversial South Korean DJ "monk" will avoid a ban in Singapore by performing in the city-state without his robe or any religious references, a nightclub hosting him said Thursday.

Colombia declares 'protected archeological area' around treasure-laden shipwreck

Colombia on Wednesday declared a "protected archeological area" around the spot where a Spanish galleon sank off its Caribbean coast more than three centuries ago laden with gold, silver and emeralds.

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