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Czech beer culture eyes UNESCO listing as pubs take hit

Going to a pub several times a week to meet friends, media consultant Gabriela Galetkova hopes Czech beer culture -- which is taking a hit as bar visits dip -- will be internationally recognised.

Amadou of Malian blind music duo dies aged 70

Guitarist and singer Amadou Bagayoko of the star Malian music duo Amadou & Mariam has died aged 70 following an illness, his family told AFP on Friday, paying tribute to the Grammy-nominated blind musician.

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Highlights from Berlin as film festival wraps up

The Berlin film festival is set to hand out its awards on Saturday, with a selection of 19 films and documentaries competing for the top Golden Bear prize.

Disinformation blizzard targets Germany before election

Stories of a pre-election state of emergency, police escorts for toddlers and forged ballot papers -- a blizzard of online disinformation has targeted German voters ahead of Sunday's election.

Porn stars: Oscar favorite 'Anora' gets sex work right

For a film about sex work to win an Oscar is rare. For it to win the respect of sex workers is even rarer.

Christie's first-ever AI sale angers some artists

Christie's has launched its first-ever sale dedicated to artworks created with artificial intelligence, riding the AI revolution wave -- a move by the famed auction house that has sparked anger among some artists.

French-Lebanese architect to redesign British Museum galleries

The British Museum said Friday it had chosen French-Lebanese architect Lina Ghotmeh to redesign a third of the venue's gallery space -- including a section housing the disputed Parthenon Marbles.

Mongolians warm up on culture at new winter festival

A festival in a frigid park on the edge of the world's coldest capital in February might not sound like a crowd-puller -- but in Mongolia an inaugural celebration of nomadic culture was in fine fettle this week.

What is Brutalism? And why do architects hate 'The Brutalist'?

"The Brutalist," an epic drama loosely inspired by the life and work of architect Marcel Breuer, is one of the favorites for Sunday's Oscars.

Harris Reed opens with 'rebellious' show at London Fashion Week opening

London Fashion Week opened on Thursday with designer Harris Reed's striking silhouettes part of a pared back, "gritty" collection, kicking off a slimmed-down schedule with several absentees.

Argentine court dismisses charges against 3 accused in death of singer Liam Payne

An Argentine appeals court has dismissed involuntary homicide charges against three people accused in the death of One Direction singer Liam Payne, who plunged from a third-floor hotel room in Buenos Aires last year, according to a ruling seen Thursday.

Five things to know about Bond, James Bond

Amazon MGM Studios will take creative control of the James Bond franchise in a landmark joint venture agreement with longtime producers Michael Wilson and Barbara Broccoli

Netflix says to spend $1 billion producing content in Mexico

Netflix said Thursday that it would spend $1 billion over four years producing films and series in Mexico, in a boost to the government's efforts to attract investment in the face of US tariff threats.

'Parasite' director says new film highlights strength of ordinary people

South Korean director Bong Joon-ho said Thursday his new film highlights the resilience of ordinary people against the powerful in a time of creeping authoritarianism at home and abroad.

A flight to Oscars glory for Adrian Quesada and 'Like a Bird'?

As a child, Adrian Quesada dreamed of success at the MTV Video Music Awards, but now, he is on an even bigger stage -- with an Oscar nomination.

Egypt unveils first ancient royal tomb since Tutankhamun

Egypt's antiquities authority says it has found the ancient tomb of King Thutmose II, the first royal burial to be located since the famed discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922.

Lights, camera, resistance. Trump looms over anxious film industry

To resist, ignore or yield? Hollywood and the film industry, long a haven for progressive idealists, are braced for difficult choices in the era of US President Donald Trump.

Linklater, Hawke team up again for musical drama 'Blue Moon'

US director Richard Linklater and long-time collaborator Ethan Hawke have teamed up again for "one-scene" musical drama "Blue Moon" which premiered at the Berlin film festival on Tuesday.

Revamped Finnish museum says 'Good Bye, Lenin!'

Finland has opened a museum depicting how ties with its eastern neighbour Russia have gone from frosty to friendly and back, revamping what was until now western Europe's last Lenin Museum.

Greece to open museum of ancient undersea treasures

A new museum showcasing thousands of ancient archaeological artefacts found at sea will open next year at the Greek port of Piraeus near Athens, officials said on Monday.

Hollywood should resist Trump pressure, says director Todd Haynes

American film director Todd Haynes has urged the film industry to stand up to Donald Trump's new administration and warned about the danger of being "contaminated" by the radical changes underway in the United States.

Musk's DOGE seeks access to US tax system: reports

Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has sparked alarm by seeking access to a system with the US tax office that has detailed financial data about millions of Americans, US media reported.

'Conclave' and 'Brutalist' share BAFTA honours

Papal thriller "Conclave" and immigrant epic "The Brutalist" on Sunday emerged neck-and-neck at the BAFTA awards with each film picking up four coveted gongs.

Chinese cheer animated blockbuster's release abroad

Chinese fans of blockbuster film "Ne Zha 2" packed into cinemas in Beijing on Sunday, snapping selfies and queueing up for movie posters and other merchandise.

Austria celebrates 200 years of 'waltz king' Johann Strauss II

Even 200 years after the birth of Austria's world-famous "waltz king" Johann Strauss II -- widely revered like a modern-day pop star during his lifetime -- his music has lost none of its magic.

Tech weary Brits revive apple tree 'wassailing' tradition

"Wassail!" yelled the crowd. "Cider for everyone!" In an orchard by a Welsh castle, hundreds of people gathered to wish good health to the apple trees in a centuries-old tradition enjoying a revival.

Don't know who to vote for? Germany has an app for that: the Wahl-O-Mat

Voting can be confusing, especially for young people casting their ballots for the first time, but in Germany they have an app to guide them through the democratic ritual: the Wahl-O-Mat.

Global stars eye India, but show needs fine-tuning

With Coldplay and Ed Sheeran among the superstars who have played to packed-out crowds in India recently, there is increasing talk that the world's most populous nation could soon become a mainstay of the global touring schedule.

Musk and space travel skewered in S. Korean director Bong's latest

Interplanetary space travel and the vanities of tech billionaires like Elon Musk are the subject of acclaimed South Korean director Bong Joon Ho's satirical new film "Mickey 17" which will be shown at the Berlin film festival on Saturday.

Artists try to make Cameroon sing a different tune

In the hustle and bustle of Yaounde, Quartier Mozart is a unique artists' refuge, which its creator hopes will free Cameroonians from the "self-censorship" they say is fuelled by the political status quo.

Jay-Z, Sean Combs accuser drops sexual assault lawsuit

A woman who accused hip-hop stars Sean "Diddy" Combs and Jay-Z of sexually assaulting her when she was 13 dropped her civil lawsuit on Friday, court records showed.

Jim Morrison's footbridge: Paris to honour 1960s icon

Rock 'n' roll icon Jim Morrison, a towering figure of the 1960s psychedelic music scene, will have a central Paris footbridge named after him, the city has decided.

Iran's early recordings revive forgotten sound heritage

In a century-old building in Tehran, Saeed Anvarinejad turned the dial of a vintage radio to tune into some of Iran's earliest recorded sounds, some serving as reminders of the seismic changes that shaped the country's history.

Swinton lashes out as she receives Berlin festival award

British movie star Tilda Swinton lashed out at the "state-operated" crimes of "greed-addicted governments" as she received a special award on the first day of the Berlin Film Festival on Thursday.

The Japan Times - Culture (English)