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Pope kicks off Christmas under shadow of war

Christmas revellers around the world donned red and white Santa hats, offered meals to the homeless and lit candles on Wednesday, as Pope Francis launched observation of the global holiday with a sombre mass in the Vatican.

As India's Bollywood shifts, stars and snappers click

From riding pillion on zooming motorbikes to round-the-clock airport stakeouts, India's celebrity-hunting paparazzi photographers have gone from "outcasts" to becoming a key part of Bollywood's vast film industry machine.

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Joe Rogan apologizes for his 'shameful' use of N word

US podcaster Joe Rogan apologized Saturday for his past use of racist language including the "N word" and said at least one offensive episode of his show has been deleted from streaming giant Spotify.

Joe Rogan apologizes for using racist 'N word'

US podcaster Joe Rogan apologized Saturday for his past use of racist language including the "N word" and said streaming giant Spotify had deleted some of the most offensive episodes of his show.

A year after it vanished, famed 'Guernica' tapestry returns to UN

One year after its sudden and disconcerting disappearance from a wall at the United Nations, a vast tapestry representing Picasso's iconic "Guernica" has been returned by owners the Rockefeller family to its prominent place at the global body.

Seven dead as tourist plane crashes near Peru's Nazca lines: ministry

Five tourists and two crew died Friday when their plane crashed on a trip to view Peru's famous Nazca lines, the transport ministry said.

'Grand Theft Auto' game maker says new edition in development

The maker of the notorious "Grand Theft Auto" video game franchise announced Friday that a new edition is under development, confirming long-bubbling speculation.

Nike sues shopping platform StockX over sneaker NFTs

Athletics giant Nike filed a lawsuit in New York on Thursday against shopping platform StockX for creating and marketing NFTs -- the tamper-proof digital property certificates -- based on the brand's products without permission.

Row over 'machismo' in song by Brazil icon Chico Buarque

In 1966, the late bossa nova singer Nara Leao asked Brazilian music icon Chico Buarque to write her a song about a long-suffering woman waiting on her man.

How Facebook slipped -- in key points

Facebook-parent Meta saw investors flee on Thursday rather than buckle-up for what could be a long ride towards the firm's metaverse vision for the internet's future.

Spotify boss defends Joe Rogan deal as stock plunges

The head of embattled streaming service Spotify has told staff that Joe Rogan is vital to the company, but that he doesn't agree with the controversial podcaster.

Top Catalan designer Antonio Miro dies aged 74

Catalan designer Antonio Miro, a Spanish fashion legend whose models included undocumented migrants and prisoners, has died aged 74, the country's culture minister said Thursday.

Facebook parent Meta sheds $200 bn in stock plummet

Facebook's parent firm Meta on Thursday lost over $200 billion in stock value -- comparable to the size of New Zealand's economy -- after results that raised doubts about the troubled social media giant's future.

The pianist who escaped a sect and topped the charts

From a violent French sect to living on the streets of LA to the top of the music charts, pianist Riopy's incredible journey is the epitome of the idea that music can save your life.

'Let the light in': Romanian Roma actress smashes stigma with new play

As a child, Roma actress and playwright Alina Serban didn't see herself represented on television, in movies or books, her stigmatised community shunned from the cultural mainstream.

Iraq struggles to make use of Saddam's crumbling palaces

Scattered across Iraq lie more than 100 opulent palaces and villas built by former dictator Saddam Hussein -- some in use, many in ruins like much of the war-scarred country.

India's Chettinad mansions a testament to past glory

Thousands of mansions in a remote corner of India once housed some of the nation's wealthiest bankers and traders but a century later most of them lie abandoned, their desolate remains a mute testament to lost riches.

Austria court orders Facebook to remove defamatory content

An Austrian court has ordered Facebook to remove content defaming a former lawmaker and post a banner on its home page announcing the decision, a court spokesman said Wednesday.

Spotify shares tumble on weak profit forecast

Shares of Spotify tumbled Wednesday after the music streaming service reported a quarterly loss and projected lower profit margins in the coming earnings period.

Four men charged in overdose death of 'The Wire' actor Williams

New York prosecutors said Wednesday they had charged four men in relation to the drug overdose death of "The Wire" actor Michael K. Williams.

CNN chief Zucker resigns over undisclosed relationship

CNN president Jeff Zucker, who helped propel Donald Trump to stardom with "The Apprentice" but became his nemesis after the real estate tycoon entered the White House, resigned Wednesday for failing to disclose a romantic relationship with a colleague.

US star Joe Rogan, podcaster in eye of misinformation storm

US podcast star Joe Rogan, who has been called out by music legends Neil Young and Joni Mitchell for spreading Covid-19 disinformation on the hugely popular Spotify streaming service, is as enthralling as he is provocative.

Crosby, Stills and Nash follow Young's lead in Spotify row

Neil Young's former bandmates from Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young said Wednesday they had asked their labels to remove their recordings from Spotify, making them the latest musicians to take a stand over misinformation on the platform.

NY Times hits 10 mn-subscription mark amid growth spurt

The New York Times reported Wednesday that buying The Athletic had helped power the paper past its 10 million-subscription target years in advance, and the company is now aiming to grow by millions more subscribers.

'Necessary evil': Some artists say can't quit Spotify

After music legends Neil Young and Joni Mitchell quit Spotify over a Covid misinformation row, some lesser-known artists have said they simply couldn't afford to leave the world's largest music streamer -- despite their concerns.

Google parent Alphabet profit soars on ads and cloud

Google's parent company Alphabet announced profits Tuesday that beat expectations and nearly doubled in 2021 -- shrugging off anxieties of a pandemic slowdown after a particularly fruitful holiday season.

Sony to buy 'Halo' creator Bungie as gaming fight heats up

PlayStation maker Sony announced a $3.6 billion agreement on Monday to buy US video game studio Bungie, creator of hits like "Halo" and "Destiny", as a gaming industry battle heats up with Microsoft.

Sony buys 'Halo' creator Bungie as gaming fight heats up

PlayStation maker Sony on Monday announced a $3.6 billion deal to buy US video game studio Bungie, creator of hits like "Halo" and "Destiny", as a gaming industry battle heats up against Microsoft.

'Spider-Man' stays aloft to lead N.America box office on slow weekend

With moviegoing slowed by the Covid-19 surge, "Spider-Man: No Way Home" easily clung to its box-office lead in North American theaters this weekend, industry data showed Sunday.

'Celebration of queerness': S.Africa drag queens keep scene alive

A leggy blonde sashays with the grace of a Hollywood star then drops into the splits, mesmerising an enthusiastic Johannesburg audience not used to watching major shows by international drag queens.

Singer Chris Brown sued in US for rape

Singer Chris Brown is being sued for rape in California, with his alleged victim claiming he drugged her and attacked her on a yacht at rap mogul Diddy's Florida home.

Immigrant thriller 'Nanny' wins top prize at Sundance

"Nanny," a supernatural thriller about an undocumented immigrant working for a wealthy New York family, won the Sundance film festival's top prize Friday.

Man arrested outside Taylor Swift's Manhattan home after attempting to enter

New York police on Friday said they arrested a man outside Taylor Swift's building, which he had crashed his vehicle into and attempted to forcibly enter.

Janet Jackson doc offers skin-deep account of superstar's rise

A new Janet Jackson documentary out Friday offers a narrow glimpse into the fiercely private superstar's early life and rise to fame.

China's 'Fight Club' ending closer to original book: author

The new ending to the Chinese release of "Fight Club" in which the authorities win is actually closer to the original book, the author has said.

Netflix must face 'Queen's Gambit' lawsuit, US judge rules

A Georgian former chess world champion's $5-million lawsuit against Netflix will go ahead after she claimed she was defamed in an episode of "The Queen's Gambit," a Los Angeles judge has ruled.

Unique expo places Saint Laurent among Paris treasures

Tucked away like Easter eggs in the most prestigious Paris museums, a unique commemoration of designer Yves Saint Laurent cements his status among the greats of French cultural history.

Apple hits revenue record despite chip shortage

Apple reported record $124 billion quarterly revenue on Thursday, despite a global chip pinch and shifting impacts of the pandemic that have weighed down other big tech players.

'Dune, 'Licorice Pizza' and 'West Side Story' top Hollywood guild noms

Sci-fi epic "Dune," coming-of-age drama "Licorice Pizza" and musical remake "West Side Story" received major boosts in Hollywood's awards season race Thursday as several of the film industry's top guilds unveiled their nominees.

Neil Young-Spotify row underscores podcast disinformation issues

Neil Young's ultimatum to Spotify that it choose between his music and the controversial star podcaster Joe Rogan has become a flashpoint in the conversation over online disinformation and corporate responsibility to moderate it.

Web-tracking 'cookies' meant to protect privacy: inventor

The data-tracking "cookies" at the heart of concerns over online privacy were meant to shield people, rather than serve as cyber snoops, their inventor told AFP.

Bombay Durpun - Culture (English)