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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.

Singer Chris Brown sues Warner Bros for $500 mn over documentary

Chris Brown has filed a $500 million lawsuit against Warner Bros and others for making a "defamatory documentary" about his alleged sexual assault and other accusations, according to a lawyers' statement posted to the singer's Instagram.

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Tears, fear and futile prayer as Lula wins Brazil vote

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva supporters were already breaking out the flares and crying with joy, while backers of Jair Bolsonaro dropped to their knees in Brazil's capital, praying for an election miracle.

S.Africa crowns new Zulu king at mega party

A new Zulu King was formally enthroned as the head of South Africa's most influential traditional monarchy at a colourful ceremony on Saturday attended by tens of thousands.

Mega party as S.Africa crowns new Zulu king

Tens of thousands of people in colourful regalia gathered at a huge soccer stadium in the coastal city of Durban on Saturday to celebrate the official coronation of South Africa's Zulu king.

NFL star Tom Brady, supermodel Gisele Bundchen confirm divorce

NFL star Tom Brady and Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen announced Friday they were divorcing after 13 years of marriage.

Taiwan invites Chinese veterinary experts as beloved panda nears death

Chinese veterinary experts have been invited to Taiwan, zoo officials said Thursday, for a rare visit between the two sides after a male panda that symbolised an era of warmer ties was moved into end of life care.

Pitt sends note to Brundle, explains grid walk snub

Hollywood film star Brad Pitt contacted British television reporter Martin Brundle to explain why he snubbed his request for an interview on the grid at last Sunday’s United States Grand Prix.

'Spare' -- Prince Harry to release memoir in January

Prince Harry will release a tell-all memoir in January, his publisher said Thursday, with the highly-anticipated account of life in the British monarchy and after he quit royal duties landing just four months after the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

Prince Harry to release memoir January 2023

Britain's Prince Harry will release his memoir in January next year, the book's publisher announced Thursday.

Bees shown to 'count' from left to right for first time

Bees order numbers in increasing size from left to right, a study has shown for the first time, supporting the much-debated theory that this direction is inherent in all animals including humans.

Liechtenstein's Vaduz in anything but a league of their own

Tiny Liechtenstein's FC Vaduz are enjoying their greatest adventure, contesting the group stage of European competition -- a "miracle" for a club from a microstate too small to have its own league.

New UK PM Sunak unveils top team as historic tenure begins

Rishi Sunak on Tuesday became Britain's third prime minister this year and the first person of colour to lead the former imperial power, vowing to overcome economic crisis provoked by the "mistakes" of Liz Truss's calamitous 49-day tenure.

Mass funerals after Israeli raids on West Bank militants kill six

Six Palestinians were killed in sweeping Israeli raids Tuesday in the occupied West Bank as the army targeted an emerging armed group, and thousands later massed for the funerals of the alleged gunmen.

Sunak appointed crisis-hit UK's first prime minister of colour

Rishi Sunak on Tuesday became Britain's third prime minister this year and the first person of colour to lead the former imperial power, vowing to mend its stricken finances after Liz Truss lasted just 49 days.

Activists see red over Iceland's blood mares

On an autumn day on a lush green prairie, more than a dozen pregnant mares are waiting to be bled for the last time this year.

Sunak to be appointed UK's third PM this year

Rishi Sunak will on Tuesday be installed as Britain's third prime minister this year, replacing the humiliated Liz Truss after just seven weeks and inheriting a daunting array of problems.

Adidas under pressure over Kanye West after anti-Jewish outbursts

Sportswear giant Adidas was under growing pressure Monday to sever ties with Kanye West after a series of anti-Semitic outbursts by the controversial rapper.

'Will & Grace' star Leslie Jordan dead at 67

Leslie Jordan, an award-winning American actor and writer best known for his role in the sitcom "Will & Grace," died Monday at age 67, one of his agents said.

'Houdini' snake escape shuts down Swedish zoo

A Swedish zoo has been partially shut down after a king cobra staged an impressive escape from its enclosure at the weekend, with staff on Monday still searching for the venomous vagrant.

Animation of Paris Algerian massacre among student Oscars winners

A French animation about the deadly police crackdown on protests by Algerians in 1960s Paris was among the winners Thursday of the Student Academy Awards, held for the first time at Los Angeles' recently opened film museum.

Cougars of LA imperiled by more frequent wildfires

They are beautiful, powerful and stalk the hills above Los Angeles.

The princess and the shaman: the romance Norway doesn't love

A princess who speaks to angels and a self-proclaimed shaman who sells pricey healing medallions: the unusual couple are madly in love but struggling to win hearts in Norway.

Sri Lankan author Shehan Karunatilaka wins Booker Prize

Sri Lankan author Shehan Karunatilaka on Monday won Britain's Booker Prize for fiction for his work "The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida", about a journalist murdered amid the country's sectarian strife.

Kanye West agrees to buy social network Parler

Social network Parler announced Monday a deal for Kanye West to buy the platform popular with US conservatives, just over a week after the rapper's Twitter and Instagram accounts were restricted over anti-Semitic posts.

Oldest author in contention as UK's Booker prize returns in full

Britain's Booker Prize for fiction on Monday holds its first large-scale awards ceremony since 2019 with six novels in the running -- including the oldest author yet nominated, and the shortest book.

UK royals donate Paddingtons to kid's charity

More than 1,000 Paddingtons and other teddy bears left by mourners following Queen Elizabeth II's death are being donated to a leading children's charity, Buckingham Palace said Saturday.

Retired NBA legend Dikembe Mutombo battling brain tumor

NBA Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo, one of the best defenders in the league's history, is undergoing treatment for a brain tumor, the league announced Saturday.

Bronte biopic 'Emily' delves into imagined author's darkness

Was reclusive 19th-century author Emily Bronte inspired to write "Wuthering Heights" after experimenting with opium, tattoos and a steamy affair with the local clergyman?

Dutch princess security threat raises crime fears

Dutch Crown Princess Amalia has been forced to abandon plans to live in student digs for security reasons, in a move that raised fresh fears on Friday about organised crime in the Netherlands.

Secrets of Hoxha's henchmen still poison Albania

Three decades after the fall of communism, the files held by Albania's infamous secret police on "enemies of the state" are slowly revealing their secrets.

Dutch crown princess moves out of student digs over security concerns

Dutch crown princess, 18-year-old Catharina-Amalia, has moved from her student digs in Amsterdam to the royal palace due to threats to her security, the royal family said on Thursday.

Romania's epic trail hopes to revive rural Transylvania

Europe has a new epic trail to rival the Camino to Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

King Charles III to be crowned in May

The coronation of King Charles III will take place on May 6 next year, Buckingham Palace announced on Tuesday, vowing to reflect the monarchy's historic traditions and its modern role.

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