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Pharrell kicks off Paris Fashion week with Louvre show

Paris Men's Fashion Week kicks off Tuesday, headlined by Pharrell Williams' highly anticipated new show for Louis Vuitton which is set to take over the Louvre.

France's arch film provocateur Blier dies at 85

Veteran French film provocateur Bertrand Blier, who has died aged 85, made some of the country's biggest arthouse hits of the 1970s and 1980s, but is perhaps best known for unleashing the Gallic megastar Gerard Depardieu on the world.

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Cosmetic surgery aficionado Jocelyne Wildenstein dies aged 79: partner

Swiss socialite Jocelyne Wildenstein, also known as "catwoman" due to her extensive plastic surgery, has died aged 79, her partner said on Wednesday.

Tintin, Popeye, Hemingway among US copyrights expiring in 2025

From "A Farewell to Arms" to the cartoon character Popeye the Sailor, thousands of artistic works will enter the public domain in the United States on Wednesday.

UK Post Office scandal victims recognised in honours list

King Charles III announced awards for actors Stephen Fry and Carey Mulligan, as well as victims of Britain's Post Office scandal in the country's traditional New Year's Honours on Tuesday.

Argentina charges five over death of singer Liam Payne

Five people have been indicted in Argentina over the death of British singer Liam Payne, who fell from a Buenos Aires hotel balcony in October after consuming alcohol and drugs, prosecutors said Monday.

Suriname ex-dictator died of liver failure, autopsy shows

Suriname's former dictator Desi Bouterse died of liver failure at age 79, an official autopsy revealed.

Mystery drones won't interfere with Santa's work: US tracker

Santa Claus has no need to worry about recent mystery drone sightings over New Jersey, a US Air Force general said Tuesday, as an annual tradition of "tracking" Saint Nick swung into action.

Banned Russian skater Valieva stars at Moscow ice gala

Russian figure skating star Kamila Valieva, serving a four-year ban for doping, received a standing ovation as she stole the show at an ice gala in Moscow on Saturday.

Notable deaths of 2024

From Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny to British actress Maggie Smith and US music titan Quincy Jones, here are some of 2024's most notable deaths.

Imposing pickup trucks symbolise Pakistan's power gulf

In Pakistan's largest city, cars inch forward in bumper-to-bumper traffic. But some seamlessly carve through the jam: SUVs flanked by Toyota Hilux pickup trucks.

Sudan's doctors bear brunt of war as healthcare falls apart

Sudanese doctor Mohamed Moussa has grown so accustomed to the constant sound of gunfire and shelling near his hospital that it no longer startles him. Instead, he simply continues attending to his patients.

Spain mourns actor and Almodovar muse Marisa Paredes

Spain on Tuesday mourned the death at 78 of acclaimed actor Marisa Paredes, who achieved international fame by starring in many films by leading director Pedro Almodovar.

Spanish actor and Almodovar favourite Marisa Paredes dies at 78

Marisa Paredes, an acclaimed Spanish actor who achieved international fame by starring in many films by director Pedro Almodovar, has died at 78, the Spanish film academy said on Tuesday.

UK concerned over China spying row engulfing Prince Andrew

The UK government Monday voiced growing concerns over allegations of espionage by China, as a Chinese businessman with links to disgraced Prince Andrew denied being a spy.

Libya farmer breaks new ground with outlier date variety

In the Libyan countryside, farmer Ismail Ben Saoud has launched an agricultural experiment, banking on Mejhoul dates -- a premium variety cherished across the Arab world but untested in such a humid coastal climate.

Retired cop finds trove of unreleased Jackson songs: report

A retired California highway patrolman has stumbled into possession of a trove of unreleased Michael Jackson songs -- which the world may never have a chance to hear.

Chinese spy claims add to Prince Andrew's woes

A former UK security minister said Friday that it was "extremely embarrassing" that a suspected Chinese spy had become a confidant of disgraced royal Prince Andrew.

Taylor Swift closed her Eras tour on top of the world. Now what?

The nearly two-year-long, $2 billion Eras tour shattered records, made history and quite literally triggered earthquakes -- so what could Taylor Swift, the planet's biggest star, possibly do next?

Japan's atomic bomb survivors to accept Nobel Prize in Oslo

This year's Nobel Peace Prize will be presented Tuesday to Japan's atomic bomb survivors' group Nihon Hidankyo, which lobbies against the weapons now resurging as a threat 80 years after the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings.

Nobel laureate warns Putin about danger of nuclear weapons

This year's Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Japan's atomic bomb survivors' group Nihon Hidankyo, on Monday urged Russia to stop issuing nuclear threats in a bid to prevail in its war in Ukraine.

'Emilia Perez' tops Golden Globes nominations

"Emilia Perez" -- Jacques Audiard's surreal narco-thriller musical about a Mexican drug lord who transitions to life as a woman -- led the Golden Globes nominations on Monday with 10, as the race to the Oscars heats up.

'Wicked' and 'Emilia Perez' tipped to lead Golden Globes noms

Hollywood's awards season shifts into high gear Monday when nominations for the Golden Globes are unveiled, with two musicals -- smash hit "Wicked" and the surreal "Emilia Perez" -- expected to shine along with papal drama "Conclave."

Japan's A-bomb survivors: from discrimination to a Nobel

Survivors of the US atomic bombings of Japan will receive the Nobel Peace Prize on Tuesday but, after years of anti-nuclear campaigning and showing the world their scars, they still retain the painful memories of the discrimination they have faced.

Rough year for Norway's royals, rocked by 'biggest scandal'

A string of rape and assault allegations against the son of Norway's future queen have plunged the royal family into its "biggest scandal" ever, wrapping up an "annus horribilis" for the monarchy.

UK's Catherine reflects on 'difficult times' at Christmas service

Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales, hosted a Christmas service at Westminster Abbey on Friday that reflected on "the most difficult times" as she returns to public life after her cancer diagnosis.

Ugly or awesome? Kosovo national library stirs never-ending debate

Smack in the middle of Kosovo's capital Pristina, the national library is all but impossible to miss.

Billionaires' wealth more than doubles in 10 years: UBS

Billionaires have seen their combined wealth shoot up 121 percent over the past decade to $14 trillion, Swiss bank UBS said Thursday, with tech billionaires' coffers filling the fastest.

Qatar's emir and UK's Starmer talk trade as state visit ends

Qatar's emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani met UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Downing Street on Wednesday as the royal wrapped up a two-day state visit to Britain.

Spanish royals to attend memorial service for flood victims

Spain's King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia will attend a memorial service on Monday in Valencia for the victims of devastating floods in October that killed at least 230 people, the royal palace said.

Scottish artist Jasleen Kaur wins 2024 Turner Prize

Scottish artist Jasleen Kaur won the prestigious Turner Prize on Tuesday, as the UK contemporary art award celebrated its 40th anniversary.

UK's Queen Camilla reveals she had pneumonia

A bout of pneumonia led Queen Camilla, the wife of King Charles III, to cancel several events, she told guests at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday, according to UK media.

Wildlife commission lowers European wolf protections

Dozens of countries on Tuesday approved downgrading the protection status of the wolf in Europe, a move activists say will upset the recovery made by the species over the past 10 years after near extinction a century ago.

'We're messing up:' Uruguay icon Mujica on strongman rule in Latin America

Uruguay's cult ex-president Jose Mujica -- a leftist icon for his humble lifestyle and progressive policies -- warned in an AFP interview against growing authoritarianism in Latin America and the "madness" of Javier Milei's rise to power in neighboring Argentina.

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