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Race for first private space station heats up as NASA set to retire ISS

With NASA's International Space Station set to come out of service in 2030, American aerospace firm Vast has stepped into a frenzied race for the world's first commercial space station.

K-pop group NewJeans ends feud with record label ADOR

All members of the K-pop group NewJeans have resumed working with their record label, the company and their lawyers said Thursday, after accusations of mistreatment and a year-long dispute that stalled their careers.

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'Parasite' filmmaker's secret debut unearthed by new documentary

Oscar-winning "Parasite" filmmaker Bong Joon-ho's first movie -- about a trapped gorilla dreaming of a different life -- was hidden from the world for three decades, but a new documentary has brought it to light.

Banksy is 'Robbie' -- artist reveals first name in 2003 interview

A rare nugget of information about the famously enigmatic street art superstar Banksy emerged Tuesday when he gave his first name as "Robbie" in an unearthed 2003 BBC interview.

NFL star Kelce opens up on romance with Taylor Swift

NFL star Travis Kelce said he is "learning every day" from Taylor Swift, as his new romance with the pop icon catapults him to heights of fame and scrutiny shared by few others on the planet.

Brexit leader stokes fresh controversy with reality TV role

Anti-EU populist Nigel Farage, who helped polarise Britain during the 2016 Brexit referendum, is dividing opinions again with a controversial appearance on a popular reality television show.

Sam Altman: the 'super optimistic' star of AI

By recruiting former OpenAI CEO Sam Altman following his surprise ouster by ChatGPT's parent company, Microsoft is hiring a tech industry star at the forefront of the artificial intelligence revolution.

Shakira, Shakira: wronged Latina superstar in comeback mode

After a bitter split from her footballer ex Gerard Pique, Colombian superstar Shakira is back with a vengeance.

Shakira reaches deal to settle Spain tax fraud case

Colombian superstar Shakira will pay millions of euros in fines as part of a settlement announced Monday with Spanish prosecutors to settle her tax fraud case and avoid trial.

Careful what you 'Wish' for: Disney brings back the villain

From Cruella de Vil to Scar, Disney has created many of cinema's most memorable villains -- but bombastic baddies have been notably absent from the studio's recent hits.

Joss Ackland, distinguished British star of stage and screen, dies at 95

The British actor Joss Ackland, who excelled in playing film villains in a varied career spanning eight decades, died on Sunday, his family said. He was 95.

Investors in OpenAI seek return of fired CEO, US media report

Major investors in OpenAI, the company behind hugely popular ChatGPT, are working to orchestrate the return as CEO of Sam Altman, a leader in the AI revolution who was fired in a shock move Friday, US media reported Sunday.

Tickets for UK's Glastonbury music festival sell out 'within an hour'

Ticket's for next year's Glastonbury music festival were snapped up Sunday within an hour of going on sale, organisers said.

British artist draws Hong Kong crowds with his 'graffiti spaghetti'

A Hong Kong transport hub was taken over Sunday by googly eyed aliens, extraterrestrial jellyfish and a cast of eccentric characters -- all part of a live performance by British artist Sam Cox, better known as Mr Doodle.

Swift postpones Rio show due to extreme heat after fan death

American superstar Taylor Swift on Saturday postponed a show in Rio de Janeiro due to extreme heat, after a fan died at the singer's concert the previous night.

Taylor Swift 'devastated' by fan's death at sweltering Rio concert

American superstar Taylor Swift said Saturday she was "devastated" by the death of a 23-year-old fan during a show in Brazil before a crowd of 60,000.

Singer Cassie, Sean Combs settle lawsuit alleging rape

Singer Cassie and rap mogul Sean Combs have reached a settlement "amicably" a day after she filed a lawsuit accusing him of rape and physical abuse, her lawyer said Saturday.

Guitar from Kurt Cobain's last tour fetches over $1.5 mn

The guitar that the late Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain used during his last tour sold for more than $1.5 million, an auction house announced Friday.

Sam Altman, ousted pioneer of OpenAI, is serial entrepreneur

Sam Altman, the tech titan behind ChatGPT, was abruptly fired Friday by OpenAI, the company that launched the revolutionary artificial intelligence chatbot.

White House condemns Musk's 'abhorrent promotion' of anti-Semitism

The White House on Friday condemned the owner of social media platform X and the world's richest person, Elon Musk, for "abhorrent promotion" of anti-Semitism.

Rio's Christ statue welcomes Taylor Swift with open arms

After lobbying from "Swifties," Rio de Janeiro's Christ the Redeemer statue was lit up to welcome Taylor Swift to Brazil ahead of a concert on Friday as part of her global blockbuster "Eras Tour."

Ex-Olympic walking champion Schwazer blocked from Paris Games

Ex-Olympic champion walker Alex Schwazer, suspended for doping until August next year, has lost his last hope of participating in the 2024 Paris Games, the Italian has announced during a reality TV show.

Shakira to go on trial in Spain for tax fraud

Just days after her success at the Latin Grammys, Colombian pop idol Shakira is set to go on trial in Barcelona on Monday for allegedly cheating Spain's tax office out of 14.5 million euros.

Hit Pakistani cricket show wins hearts in India

Long-simmering rivalries on and off the pitch divided India and Pakistan once more at the World Cup, but a cricket show run by Pakistani greats of the game has won fans across the border.

Oprah says 'Color Purple' helped her deal with childhood rape

Oprah Winfrey said "The Color Purple" helped her cope with the trauma of being raped as a young girl, as she introduced a new film based on Alice Walker's acclaimed novel Thursday.

Karol G wins Album of the Year at Latin Grammys

Colombian singer Karol G won the coveted Album of the Year award for her LP "Manana sera bonito" at Thursday's Latin Grammy Awards, the first ever held outside the United States.

Weed enthusiast Snoop Dogg is 'giving up smoke'?

Snoop Dogg, the acclaimed rapper whose image has long been tied to his professed love of marijuana, on Thursday said he's giving up smoking.

African cinema seeks bigger role on world stage

As a filmmaker and head of Ghana's film agency, Juliet Yaa Asantewa Asante said she always had the same sense when attending international industry events: African cinema had so much more potential to deliver.

'French Elvis' Hallyday labels publish new songs

Fans of the late Johnny Hallyday, "the French Elvis Presley", will be able to commemorate the sixth anniversary of his death with two songs never released before.

End of an era: 'The Crown' concludes with Diana's death

Netflix's acclaimed series "The Crown" chronicling the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, draws to a close from Thursday, focusing on a subject still highly sensitive to the British monarchy -- the death of Princess Diana.

New York's Met stages Spanish opera for first time in nearly a century

For the first time in nearly a century, the Metropolitan Opera in New York City will stage a performance in Spanish on Thursday, as the company works to expand its appeal to wider audiences.

Roger Waters faces Argentina, Uruguay hotel ban amid 'anti-Semitism' row

A complaint of "anti-Semitism" was filed against Roger Waters in Argentina Wednesday as the former Pink Floyd frontman, on tour, accused "the Israeli lobby" of barring him from hotels in South America.

Roger Waters claims 'Israeli lobby' blocking Uruguay, Argentina hotel stays

Singer Roger Waters, who has been repeatedly accused of anti-Semitism, claimed in an interview published Wednesday to be the victim of a hotel boycott in Uruguay and Argentina led by "the Israeli lobby."

Top French art expert faces fake furniture trial

A leading French art expert is to face trial on charges of forgery for building furniture that he falsely claimed to be from the 18th century and was sold at high prices to buyers who included the Palace of Versailles.

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