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Iraq's Garden of Eden now 'like a desert'
To feed and cool his buffaloes, Hashem Gassed must cross 10 kilometres (six miles) of sunburnt land in southern Iraq, where drought is devastating swathes of the mythical Mesopotamian Marshes.
Swiss techno Street Parade returns after two-year absence
Hundreds of thousands of people filled the streets of a sun-baked Zurich Saturday ready to party in the Swiss city's annual techno Street Parade, after a two-year absence due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Tourists, locals irate over Machu Picchu snafu
The suspension of ticket sales to Machu Picchu sparked protests among angry tourists and merchants from the town closest to the Inca citadel.
New Owen Wilson superhero film bets on streaming power
Owen Wilson's new superhero film "Secret Headquarters," out Friday, was originally slated for a theatrical release -- before creators opted to put it out exclusively on the streaming platform Paramount Plus instead.
February 14, 1989: The fatwa against Salman Rushdie
Friday's knife attack on Salman Rushdie comes more than 33 years after the fatwa against him by Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, in which he sentenced him to death.
France's 'Little Nicolas' illustrator Jean-Jacques Sempe dies aged 89
Jean-Jacques Sempe, who illustrated the much-loved "Little Nicolas" series of French children's books, has died aged 89, his biographer told AFP on Thursday.
Rupert Murdoch and Jerry Hall finalize divorce
Media tycoon Rupert Murdoch and model Jerry Hall have finalized their divorce after six years of marriage, Hall's lawyer said Thursday.
Olivia Newton-John to get state memorial in Australia
Screen legend Olivia Newton-John will be honoured with a state memorial service in her adoptive homeland Australia, authorities said Thursday, touting an upbeat sendoff for the late Grammy-winning actress.
Fresh fears after Facebook's role in US abortion case
Facebook sparked outrage by complying with US police probing an abortion case, boosting simmering fears the platform will be a tool for clamping down on the procedure.
Michael Jordan 'Last Dance' jersey to be auctioned in September
A jersey worn by basketball legend Michael Jordan during Game 1 of the 1998 NBA Finals, his last title victory, is set to be auctioned off in September for an estimated $3-5 million, Sotheby's announced Wednesday.
Elon Musk sells nearly $7 billion worth of Tesla shares: document
Elon Musk has sold nearly $7 billion worth of Tesla shares, according to legal filings published Tuesday, amid a high-stakes legal battle with Twitter over a $44 billion buyout deal.
Bollywood seeks boost with 'Forrest Gump' remake
One of India's biggest stars is banking on a remake of Hollywood feelgood hit "Forrest Gump" to revive the fortunes of Hindi-language Bollywood, after a string of weak box-office showings.
Motown hit songwriter Lamont Dozier dies at 81
Lamont Dozier, part of the acclaimed songwriting trio behind hits from artists including the Supremes and the Isley Brothers, has died. He was 81 years old.
'Total art': Inside France's vast video game archive
In the bowels of an imposing modernist tower in Paris, Laurent Duplouy carefully handles a pristine copy of "Tomb Raider" before slotting it back on the shelf alongside thousands of other classic video games.
War, poverty, no internet: The trials of a C.Africa rapper
Clad in a fluorescent jumpsuit and high-top sneakers, Cool Fawa grabs the microphone and fires up the audience.
Issey Miyake: seamless innovator of avant-garde style
Fashion innovator Issey Miyake shook up Parisian style with his highly wearable avant-garde designs, saying he was driven to create clothes that "bring beauty and joy" after witnessing the horrors of Hiroshima.
Japanese fashion designer Issey Miyake dies at 84
Japanese fashion designer Issey Miyake, whose global career spanned more than half a century, has died aged 84, an employee at his office in Tokyo told AFP on Tuesday.
At a Jakarta crosswalk, Indonesian teens take to the catwalk
A pedestrian crossing turned viral catwalk has become a site for Jakarta's young fashionistas to express themselves, while attracting the disapproval of police in the traffic-clogged Indonesian capital.
Elton John and Britney Spears to collaborate on new song
Princess of pop Britney Spears will join forces with music maestro Elton John on a new single, the record company releasing the track said Monday.
'Grease' star Olivia Newton-John dies aged 73
Singer Olivia Newton-John, who gained worldwide fame as the high school sweetheart Sandy in the hit movie "Grease", died on Monday after a 30-year battle with cancer. She was 73.
Amazon to buy Roomba-maker iRobot in $1.7 bn deal
Amazon on Friday announced a $1.7 billion deal to buy the maker of robotic vacuum Roomba in a merger that would play into the tech giant's artificial intelligence and smart home ambitions.
Hindu nationalists push boycott of Bollywood 'Forrest Gump' remake
According to Forrest Gump, life is like a box of chocolates because "you never know what you're going to get". Now, an Indian remake of the movie has been hit by boycott calls over years-old comments by its Muslim star Aamir Khan.
Craft distillers fear mezcal will become victim of own success
With just a look, Sosima Olivera knows when her cherished agave plants will be ready to make mezcal, tequila's lesser-known Mexican cousin whose fast-growing popularity is raising fears of overexploitation.
Judge says Kevin Spacey must pay $31 mn over 'House of Cards' axing
Hollywood movie star Kevin Spacey will have to pay $31 million to the production company that fired him from "House of Cards" after allegations of sexual harassment emerged, a judge ruled Thursday, dismissing his appeal against arbitration.
The final frontier? Just a slice of Spanish sausage
A red ball of spicy fire with luminous patches glowing menacingly against a black background.
400-year-old Ecuadoran beer resurrected from yeast
Inside an old oak barrel, Ecuadoran bioengineer Javier Carvajal found the fungus of fortune: a 400-year-old yeast specimen that he has since managed to resurrect and use to reproduce what is believed to be Latin America's oldest beer.
Directors 'shocked' by axing of $90m 'Batgirl' film
The directors of "Batgirl" said Wednesday they were "shocked" that the $90 million dollar superhero film had been axed by the studio and will now not be released in any format.
Hong Kong mahjong carver among the last of his kind
Eyebrows furrowed in careful concentration as he chisels images and Chinese characters onto mahjong tiles, 70-year-old Cheung Shun-king is one of the last craftsmen of his kind in Hong Kong.
Apple TV+ counts its 'Luck' as fallen 'Toy Story' exec makes comeback
Like all good animated family movies, "Luck" has a thoroughly optimistic premise: that no matter how hopeless or dire your circumstances may seem, something good will eventually come of it.
Oscars group elects Janet Yang as new president
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences elected film producer Janet Yang as its new president, the group behind the Oscars announced Tuesday.
Airbnb reports soaring revenue as travel rebounds
Airbnb said Tuesday revenue in the recently ended quarter topped $2 billion as people shook off pandemic worries and took part in a banner travel season.
Stock trading platform Robinhood axes staff
Robinhood on Tuesday said it is laying off nearly a quarter of its employees as inflation and a crypto market crash cripple activity on the stock trading platform.
Novelist Stephen King star witness in anti-trust trial
Best-selling author Stephen King is horrified by an upcoming merger of major book publishers.
BTS may be able to perform while on military service: minister
K-pop sensations BTS may be allowed to continue performing and preparing for international concerts even while they undertake their mandatory military service in South Korea, the defence minister said Monday.
Tunisia library races to preserve rich polyglot press archive
In the basement of the National Library of Tunis, conservator Hasna Gabsi combs through shelves of newspapers dating back to the mid-19th century to select the latest to digitise.
BTS' J-Hope makes history on Lollapalooza festival stage
K-pop superstar J-Hope of BTS made history on Sunday as the closer at Chicago's annual Lollapalooza weekend, becoming the first South Korean act to headline a major US music festival.
Nichelle Nichols, Uhura of 'Star Trek' fame, dies at 89
Nichelle Nichols, a groundbreaking Black actress who played communications officer Nyota Uhura with cool authority on the popular 1960s series "Star Trek," has died at 89.
DC's 'Super-Pets' tops N.America box office
Animated superhero pic "DC League of Super-Pets" pulled in an estimated $23 million this weekend in a moderate opening that still managed to top the North American box office, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported Sunday.
Uber courts drivers by letting them pick rides
Uber on Friday said it will let drivers in the United States see trip details before deciding whether to accept them -- a new feature long sought by drivers.