The China Mail - Culture

EU backs Microsoft's Activision Blizzard takeover

The EU on Monday gave the green light to Microsoft's $69-billion takeover bid for US video game giant Activision Blizzard, just weeks after the British competition regulator blocked the deal, putting it at risk.

Japan boyband agency apologises over sex abuse allegations

Japan's top boyband agency has issued an apology over sexual assault allegations against its late founder Johnny Kitagawa, with fans demanding Monday that the firm "fully investigate" the matter.

'Queen' Loreen: Sweden basks in Eurovision glory

Sweden was celebrating Sunday after Loreen won the Eurovision song contest, the Scandinavian country's seventh title triumph, equalling Ireland's record.

Voting underway as Liverpool stages Eurovision final for Ukraine

The votes were being tallied late Saturday in the Eurovision final, as performers from 26 countries awaited the results of the eccentric much-loved song contest being staged in Britain on behalf of war-torn Ukraine.

Meteorologists targeted in climate misinfo surge

Once trusted faces on the news, meteorologists now brave threats, insults and slander online from conspiracy theorists and climate change deniers who accuse them of faking or even fixing the weather.

Jamie Foxx out of hospital after medical scare

Oscar-winning US actor Jamie Foxx is out of hospital and recuperating from an unspecified medical emergency, his daughter and publicist said Friday.

Javier Bardem to get lifetime achievement award at San Sebastian

Movie star Javier Bardem will receive a lifetime achievement award at Spain's San Sebastian film festival, organisers said Friday.

Musk picks ad exec Linda Yaccarino as Twitter CEO

Elon Musk has chosen top ad executive Linda Yaccarino to take the day-to-day reins of Twitter as he fights to reverse the tide at the struggling platform he bought for $44 billion last year.

Eurovision has disrupted Man City schedule, says Guardiola

Pep Guardiola says Saturday's Eurovision final has given him a headache as he seeks to keep Manchester City's treble bid on track.

Russian offensive inspires golden age of military bloggers

Before Russia's offensive in Ukraine, Mikhail Zvinchuk's Telegram channel was mainly known to military buffs. Today, it boasts more than a million followers, exceeding that of many media outlets.

Top French museum flips the Roma narrative

The faces of the Roma community's best and brightest beam down at visitors from a multicoloured wall inside one of France's top museums.

Disinformation adds dark note to pivotal Turkish election

The clip lasted 14 seconds, presented by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as proof that his rival in Sunday's election was running "hand in hand" with outlawed Kurdish militants.

YouTuber who staged plane crash faces up to 20 years jail: US officials

A YouTuber pilot who bailed out midair and deliberately sent his plane crashing into the ground to bolster viewing numbers on his channel could be jailed for up to 20 years, US authorities said Thursday.

Elon Musk says new Twitter chief has been hired

Elon Musk on Thursday said he has hired someone to replace him as boss of Twitter and its newly named X Corporation parent.

Disinformation plagues migrants' quest to reach US

Under the intense desert sun, hundreds of migrants crossed the Rio Grande river from Mexico last week following a rumor the United States would let them enter -- victims of another case of disinformation.

How to cover Trump? CNN on defensive as media wring hands -- again

Donald Trump's airing of falsehoods and insults in a prime-time CNN appearance triggered a deluge of criticism of the network, as media organizations once again grapple with how to cover the rule-breaking Republican seeking to win back the White House.

Zelensky says Ukraine needs time before counter-offensive

Ukraine said it needed more time before a highly anticipated counter-offensive against Russian forces, according to an interview published by the BBC Thursday, as the UK pledged to send Storm Shadow missiles to help Kyiv.

EU lawmakers take first step towards AI curbs

European Parliament lawmakers on Thursday took a crucial first step towards EU-wide regulation of ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence systems that Brussels hopes to put speedily in place.

Van Gogh's frenzied final days highlight of new show

Vincent Van Gogh's feverish final months in a French village, when he churned out masterpieces even as he spiralled into despair, are the subject of a one-off exhibition opening this week in Amsterdam.

Fans in frenzy as Beyonce kicks off concert tour

Ecstatic Beyonce fans sang and danced in feverish excitement in Stockholm Wednesday as the superstar kicked off her first solo tour in seven years with a futuristic spectacle featuring a lunar rover, an airborne horse and wall-to-wall rhinestones.

Google answers ChatGPT challenge with Bard expansion

Google on Wednesday said it is opening Bard, a rival to Microsoft-backed ChatGPT, to 180 countries as it expands use of artificial intelligence across its platform.

Fans in frenzy as Beyonce set to kick off concert tour

Ecstatic Beyonce fans sang and danced in feverish excitement in Stockholm Wednesday in the final countdown to the superstar kicking off her first solo tour in seven years.

A year on, Palestinians mourn slain journalist Shireen Abu Akleh

A year after an Israeli bullet killed Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, her West Bank office remains almost untouched, but mourners' flowers have piled up in an adjacent room.

French actor Adele Haenel quits cinema over sexual abuse 'complacency'

French actor Adele Haenel, who has for years spoken out against sexual abuse in the film industry, announced she was giving up movie acting over the industry's "complacency".

Syrian stand-up comedy has war-weary crowds in stitches

In a dimly lit Damascus cafe, Sharief Homsi kicked off comedy night with a quip about war-battered Syria's modern-day prince charming: an eligible bachelor with attractive supplies of fuel and electricity.

Hebrew Bible, rare Rousseau to star at New York spring auctions

A host of rare works including the world's oldest near-complete Hebrew Bible and a Gustav Klimt waterscape making its auction debut headline New York's spring sales starting this week.

Robert De Niro becomes father again at 79

Robert De Niro has become a father again at the age of 79, the "Raging Bull" actor said in a recent interview.

Telegram calls Brazil disinformation law 'attack on democracy'

Messaging app Telegram warned Tuesday that "democracy is under attack in Brazil," the latest salvo by tech companies opposed to a bill seeking to stem disinformation online.

Brazilian rock icon Rita Lee dead at 75

Rita Lee, a Brazilian rock-and-roll icon who sang with legendary group Os Mutantes and went on to a trailblazing solo career as one of Latin America's first female rockers, has died at age 75, her family said Tuesday.

AFP journalists, employees killed on duty or in attacks

Like Arman Soldin, a video reporter killed in eastern Ukraine on Tuesday, several other AFP journalists and staff have died on mission or in attacks since the news agency's creation in 1944.

Radio-Canada, CBC returning to Twitter

Canada's public broadcaster CBC and its French-language arm Radio-Canada said Tuesday that they were returning to Twitter after the social media site removed a "government-funded media" label.

Brazilian rock icon Rita Lee dead at 75: family