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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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Prince William plays rugby on S.Africa climate prize visit

Britain's Prince William played rugby with students and met young environmentalists Monday at the start of a visit to South Africa for the awards of his Earthshot Prize for solutions to climate change.

Montreux Jazz Festival hails 'godfather' Quincy Jones

Quincy Jones was the godfather of the Montreux Jazz Festival and was instrumental in bringing different styles to the stage, the event's chief executive told AFP on Monday.

Green shoots spring from ashes in Brazil's fire-resistant savanna

The huge wildfires that ripped through Brazil recently did not spare its vast tropical savanna, but green shoots are already emerging from the ashes there, proof of the vast grasslands' rare gift for fire resistance.

Ballon d'Or wins 'normal' for Barcelona star Bonmati

Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati used to watch Lionel Messi winning Ballon d'Or trophies and think it was "incredible" but now she has won two herself, she is taking it in her stride.

Spain urges hard-hit regions to stay home during flood rescue

Spanish authorities on Thursday told people in flood-stricken regions to stay at home as rescuers raced to find survivors in the rare disaster that has left at least 95 dead.

Visual artist grabs 'decisive moment' to nurture Chad art scene

At a repurposed restaurant, now a newly opened gallery, Chadian visual artist Doff showcases his art made from rusty Kalashnikov shells -- and supports aspiring young artists in the Sahel country's nascent art scene.

'I'm terrified': French auteur Audiard hits Oscars trail for 'Emilia Perez'

His film "Emilia Perez" won multiple prizes at Cannes, and was snapped up by Netflix. Now French director Jacques Audiard is steeling himself for the next, arduous stage -- a glitzy yet grueling campaign as an Oscars frontrunner.

Rumble in the Jungle remembered after 50 years

Alfred Mamba was just 12 when boxing great Muhammad Ali descended on Kinshasa, at that time the capital of Zaire, in October 1974 in a bid to regain his heavyweight title.

Spain seeks ground-breaking law for great apes

For decades Achille, 50, eked out a miserable existence living alone in wretched conditions in a cramped circus cage.

French screen legend Depardieu asks for delay to sexual assault trial

Actor Gerard Depardieu on Monday asked for a delay to the start of his trial on sexual assault charges, saying his health prevented him from attending the proceedings, with numerous other complaints and a possible second court case already lying in wait.

French screen legend Depardieu faces sexual assault trial

Actor Gerard Depardieu's Paris trial for allegedly sexually assaulting two women during a film shoot begins Monday, with numerous further complaints and a possible second court case already lying in wait.

Vinicius favourite for Ballon d'Or in post-Messi/Ronaldo era

The elite of world football will gather in Paris on Monday for the Ballon d'Or ceremony, with Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior the leading candidate for the men's award and Barcelona's Aitana Bonmati the hot favourite to win her second-successive crown.

King Charles III departs Samoa, wrapping Pacific tour

Britain's King Charles III and his wife Queen Camilla departed Samoa Saturday, wrapping up a marathon 11-day tour that included a controversy-tinged stop in their Australian realm.

Commonwealth struggles to overcome splits over brutal past

Britain's King Charles deflected calls to atone for his country's colonial past Friday, as a summit of Commonwealth allies turned into a factious debate about the legacy of slavery and empire.

Huge US lithium mine gets govt approval

An enormous lithium mine in the Nevada desert was granted final government approval Thursday in a project the miner predicts will quadruple US production of a mineral critical to the renewable energy revolution.

King Charles's Scottish retreat could become wedding venue

Britain's King Charles III's remote private estate in the Scottish Highlands could become an exclusive location for weddings, if an application to the local council is approved.

New Zealand airport sets three-minute limit on hugs

A New Zealand airport has imposed a three-minute limit on farewell hugs, sparking a worldwide debate over how long to cling on for a cuddle.

Argentine police raid hotel where Liam Payne fell to death

Argentine police raided on Wednesday the Buenos Aires hotel where former One Direction star Liam Payne died after falling from his third-floor balcony, a police source told AFP.

Activists take German government to court over biodiversity

A German environmental activist group said Wednesday it was taking the government to the country's highest court to force it to take more action to protect biodiversity at home and globally.

Cattle disease wreaks havoc in Libya

On Najmeddine Tantoun's farm on the outskirts of the western Libyan city of Misrata, the usual whir of hundreds of dairy milking machines has given way to near silence.

King Charles winds up Australia trip, flies to Samoa summit

King Charles III wrapped up a six-day Australia tour Wednesday, jetting off to the Pacific island of Samoa for a summit of the 56-nation Commonwealth, where more questions about Britain's colonial legacy await.

Argentina prosecutors deny releasing Liam Payne toxicology tests

Argentine prosecutors on Tuesday denied releasing toxicology test results for British pop star Liam Payne, after US media reported he had multiple drugs in his system when he died.

Critically endangered whale species rebounds slightly

One of the world's rarest whale species has seen a slight population rebound, according to data released Tuesday, though experts warn it remains at serious risk of extinction.

Chile launches vaccine that neuters dogs for a year

Chile has launched a vaccine described as the first of its kind that sterilizes dogs for a year and is expected to be sold in several dozen countries.

Toxicology tests show Liam Payne had 'multiple' drugs in system: reports

Pop star Liam Payne had multiple drugs including crack cocaine and methamphetamine in his system when he fell to his death from a hotel balcony in Argentina, according to initial toxicology reports cited by US media on Monday.

Alpacas, hecklers and climate warnings: King Charles visits Australia's capital

King Charles visited Australia's capital Canberra on Monday, where he was sneezed on by a suit-wearing alpaca, heckled by an Indigenous senator, and applauded for a speech on the country's climate perils.

Sartorially suave alpaca sneezes on King Charles

King Charles joked Monday about past encounters with Australia's formidable wildlife -- brown snakes, leeches, funnel web spiders and bull ants. He did not mention being sneezed on by a nine-year-old suit-wearing alpaca named Hephner.

King Charles says signs of climate change in Australia 'unmistakable'

King Charles warned of "overwhelming" climate dangers in an address at Australia's parliament on Monday, saying the growing ferocity of bushfires and floods were an "unmistakable sign" of a sweltering planet.

King Charles to spotlight conflict, climate in Australian capital

An Aboriginal smoking ceremony will welcome King Charles III to Australia's capital Canberra on Monday, where the monarch will spotlight past war efforts and a new fight against climate change.

Charles expresses 'great joy' at being back in Australia

King Charles' antipodean admirers got a first glimpse of their reigning monarch Sunday, as the British royal attended a church service and expressed his "great joy" at returning Down Under.

Liam Payne's sister shares touching tribute to late brother

The sister of One Direction member Liam Payne shared a heartfelt message to him on Saturday, in the latest emotional tribute from around the world following his death earlier this week.

King Charles given military honours on first day of Australia tour

King Charles was granted five-star rank in each branch of Australia's armed forces Saturday, a ceremonial gesture to mark the first full day of his landmark tour Down Under.

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