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Bamboo farm gets chopping for US zoo's hungry new pandas

On a snow-blanketed field in Virginia, a handful of workers were silent but for the groan of a chainsaw chopping through bamboo -- a delicacy for their furry clients down the road in the US capital of Washington.

Progressive politics and nepo 'babies': five Oscar takeaways

The Oscar nominations were unveiled Thursday, with Netflix's "Emilia Perez" leading the charge on a whopping 13 nods.

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French star Omar Sy returns to Senegalese roots for WWI movie

One of France's best-loved stars, Omar Sy, has returned to his Senegalese roots for a movie about colonial troops who fought for France in the World War I trenches.

Norway queen says King Harald 'very well' in hospital

Norway's Queen Sonja on Tuesday said King Harald V was doing "very, very well", a day after her 85-year-old husband was admitted to hospital following an infection.

Italian police transport organs in Lamborghini supercar

Italian police used a specially adapted Lamborghini supercar to deliver two kidneys to donor patients on Tuesday hundreds of kilometres apart, they announced.

Harvey Weinstein convicted of rape in Hollywood trial

Disgraced US movie titan Harvey Weinstein was convicted Monday of sexually assaulting a woman a decade ago, in what prosecutors said was part of his "reign of terror" over aspiring young actresses in Hollywood.

UK police charge man after eggs thrown at King Charles

A 23-year-old man from York in northern England was charged Monday with "threatening behaviour" after several eggs were thrown towards King Charles III during a visit to the city last month.

Norway's King Harald hospitalised but 'stable': palace

Norway's King Harald, 85, will remain in hospital "for a few days" following an infection but his condition is stable, the royal household said Monday.

Memorial as Irish peacekeeper killed in Lebanon flown home

United Nations peacekeepers in Lebanon took part in a memorial service Sunday as the body of their slain Irish comrade was repatriated, days after being shot dead in an attack.

Miss France 2023 crowned after tweaked pageant fails to sway critics

Indira Ampiot, an 18-year-old communications student, was crowned Miss France 2023 on Saturday night after a parade of swimsuits, evening gowns and heels, concluding a pageant that had sought to update its image with newly expanded eligibility criteria.

Dam plans threaten China's migratory bird haven

Spooked by a historic drought, local authorities in China have renewed controversial plans to dam the country's biggest freshwater lake.

Beloved 'Hollywood Cat' mountain lion euthanized in Los Angeles

Hollywood Cat is no longer.

Dam plans threatens China's migratory bird haven

Spooked by a historic drought, local authorities in China have renewed controversial plans to dam the country's biggest freshwater lake.

UK royals declare peace after race row with charity head

Buckingham Palace on Friday declared a reconciliation between Prince William's godmother and a black British woman who was repeatedly asked where she was "really" from.

'Gloves off' as Prince Harry takes aim at brother in Netflix series

Prince Harry looked set to turn his fire on his brother William on Thursday, as Netflix airs the final episodes of the docuseries about the disgruntled royal and his wife Meghan.

WHO chief says uncle 'murdered' in Tigray bloodshed

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the head of the World Health Organization, said Wednesday that his uncle had been "murdered" by Eritrean troops in Ethiopia's war-torn northern Tigray region.

Ex-UK PM Johnson earns over £1 mn for speeches since quitting

Former British prime minister Boris Johnson has already earned more than £1 million ($1.2 million) for giving paid speeches since leaving office in September, according to an official register of UK parliamentarians' interests.

Youth of African diaspora consider climate solutions at US summit

A group of young Black Americans and their peers from African countries on Tuesday highlighted their common anxieties over climate change, shared as members of the global African diaspora.

'Banshees of Inisherin' tops nominations as Golden Globes attempt comeback

Irish black comedy "The Banshees of Inisherin" topped the Golden Globes nominations Monday, as the scandal-struck Hollywood award show attempts to rebuild its reputation following last year's boycott by A-listers and studios.

Nobel Peace Prize ceremony, a call to arms for Ukraine

A trio representing the three nations at the centre of the war in Ukraine will receive the Nobel Peace Prize on Saturday, showing no sign of giving up the fight against Vladimir Putin and his Minsk ally.

Ukraine's Nobel laureate wants Putin brought to justice

The co-winner of this year's Nobel Peace Prize, Ukraine's Oleksandra Matviichuk, called on Friday for Russian President Vladimir Putin to be brought before an international tribunal.

Kristen Stewart to lead Berlin film fest jury

US actor Kristen Stewart will head up the jury in February at Berlin's international film festival, Europe's first major cinema showcase of the year, organisers said Friday.

UK media returns fire at 'Harry the Nasty' over Netflix doc

Britain's media, the main focus of criticism so far in Netflix docuseries "Harry and Meghan", on Friday hit back at the estranged prince and his wife, accusing them of lying and insulting Queen Elizabeth II.

Celine Dion cancels shows due to 'rare neurological disorder'

Celine Dion cancelled and postponed a series of European shows on Thursday over problems related to a "very rare neurological disorder" that is affecting her singing.

In Netflix series, Harry slams press, family, over 'feeding frenzy'

Prince Harry slammed the media "feeding frenzy" over his relationship with Meghan in an explosive Netflix docuseries aired Thursday, also criticising his family for failing to protect her and his mother Diana.

After 20 years in a cage, freedom for Albania brown bear

After more than two decades in a cage at an Albanian restaurant for diners to look at, brown bear Mark is heading towards a better life in an Austrian sanctuary.

Royals brace as 'Harry & Meghan' airs on Netflix

The first three episodes of a docuseries on Prince Harry and his wife Meghan air on Thursday, with expectations of more damaging claims about British royal family life.

'Avatar 2' gets world premiere in London

One of the most delayed sequels in blockbuster history finally hit the big screen on Tuesday as "Avatar: The Way of Water" got its much-anticipated world premiere in London.

Spain's former king wins partial victory in UK harassment case

Three appeal judges in London on Tuesday ruled that the former mistress of Spain's ex-king Juan Carlos I could not sue him for harassment in the English courts for the period while he was on the throne.

Bollettieri -- the hard as nails coach who shaped tennis stars

Nick Bollettieri, the celebrity tennis coach who helped develop such icons as Andre Agassi and Monica Seles, died on Monday aged 91.

'He'll come home': Pele's daughters reassure fans of ill football icon

Brazilian football superstar Pele's daughters told his fans Sunday that their father's health was not at serious risk, saying they are confident he will return home when he recovers from a respiratory infection.

Clooney, U2 among honorees at glitzy Washington gala

Film icon George Clooney and soul legend Gladys Knight are among an elite circle of stars receiving honors at Washington's Kennedy Center Sunday in the presence of President Joe Biden.

Palestinian Santa brings festive cheer to Jerusalem

In Jerusalem's Old City there are dozens of churches, but as Christmas beckons there is just one Santa Claus -- a towering Palestinian former basketball player.

Historic crown to be modified for Charles III coronation

Britain's 17th-century St Edward's Crown, the centrepiece of the Crown Jewels, has been removed from display to be altered for the coronation of King Charles III, Buckingham Palace said on Saturday.

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