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Clem Burke, drummer for Blondie, dies at 70
Clem Burke, the longtime drummer for the pioneering New Wave band Blondie, has died, the band announced Monday. He was 70 years old.

The music industry is battling AI -- with limited success
The music industry is fighting on platforms, through the courts and with legislators in a bid to prevent the theft and misuse of art from generative AI -- but it remains an uphill battle.

China would have agreed TikTok deal if not for US tariffs: Trump
US President Donald Trump said Sunday that China would have agreed to a deal on the sale of TikTok if it were not for the tariffs imposed by Washington on Beijing last week.

Thousands attend funeral of legendary Malian musician Amadou
Thousands of people gathered in Bamako on Sunday for the funeral of Malian music star Amadou Bagayako -- of the blind husband-and-wife duo Amadou & Mariam -- two days after his death at the age of 70.

'Minecraft Movie' strikes gold to dominate N.America box office
Warner Bros. new video game-based film "A Minecraft Movie" smashed records in its opening weekend in North American theaters, digging up an estimated $157 million in ticket sales, analysts said Sunday.

Italian director Moretti leaves hospital after heart attack
Award-winning Italian film director Nanni Moretti spoke Sunday to the audience at a Rome film festival after leaving hospital where he underwent heart surgery, organisers said.

Czech beer culture eyes UNESCO listing as pubs take hit
Going to a pub several times a week to meet friends, media consultant Gabriela Galetkova hopes Czech beer culture -- which is taking a hit as bar visits dip -- will be internationally recognised.

Amadou of Malian blind music duo dies aged 70
Guitarist and singer Amadou Bagayoko of the star Malian music duo Amadou & Mariam has died aged 70 following an illness, his family told AFP on Friday, paying tribute to the Grammy-nominated blind musician.

Amadou of Malian blind music duo Amadou & Mariam dies aged 70
Guitarist and singer Amadou Bagayoko of star Malian music duo Amadou & Mariam has died aged 70 following an illness, his family told AFP on Friday, paying tribute to the Grammy-nominated blind musician.

Nigerian, S. African music saw 'extraordinary growth' in 2024: Spotify
Nigerian and South African music achieved unprecedented growth last year on Spotify, earning record-breaking royalties, the audio streaming platform said on Friday.

Russell Brand: From Hollywood star to rape suspect
Bursting onto the scene as a provocative comedian before transforming into a Hollywood star then internet conspiracy theorist, Russell Brand still boasts millions of online fans despite being accused of rape.

London mayor gets new powers to revive capital's ailing nightlife
London mayor Sadiq Khan will get more powers to cut red tape that is "stifling" pubs, clubs and restaurants and holding back the UK capital's flagging night-time economy, the government announced on Friday.

Elton John says new album 'freshest' since 1970s
Elton John has described his new album as the "freshest" he has done since the 1970s, as "Who Believes in Angels?" was released Friday.

Finland's colossal bomb shelters a model for jittery Europe
Swimming pools, playgrounds and amusement parks: Finland's underground facilities, which can double as bomb shelters, have emerged as an inspiring approach as Europe ramps up preparedness after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Experts warn 'AI-written' paper is latest spin on climate change denial
Climate change deniers are pushing an AI-generated paper questioning human-induced warming, leading experts to warn against the rise of research that is inherently flawed but marketed as neutral and scrupulously logical.

E.T., no home: Original model of movie alien doesn't sell at auction
An original model of E.T., created for Steven Spielberg's beloved film "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial," did not find a buyer after being put up for auction, Sotheby's auction house in New York said Thursday.

New Bruce Springsteen music set for June 27 release
Bruce Springsteen announced Thursday he will release a boxed set of new music this summer spanning 83 songs.

Russian soprano Netrebko to return to London's Royal Opera House
Russian superstar soprano Anna Netrebko -- shunned on some world stages since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine -- will appear at London's Royal Opera House later this year.

Tate Modern gifted 'extraordinary' work by US artist Joan Mitchell
London's Tate Modern unveiled a huge, spectacular abstract painting by acclaimed US artist Joan Mitchell on Thursday, part of one of the "most significant gifts" to the gallery in recent decades.

Italian director Nanni Moretti in hospital after heart attack: media
Italian film director Nanni Moretti was in intensive care at a Rome hospital on Wednesday after suffering a heart attack, local media reports said.

'Top Gun' and Batman star Val Kilmer dies aged 65
Val Kilmer, one of the biggest Hollywood actors of the 1990s who shot to fame playing Iceman in the original "Top Gun", has died aged 65 after a career of memorable hits and on-set bust ups.

AI coming for anime but Ghibli's Miyazaki irreplaceable, son says
Artificial intelligence risks taking Japanese anime artists' jobs but nothing can replicate Hayao Miyazaki, the creative lifeblood of the studio behind classics such as "Spirited Away", his son told AFP.

'Top Gun' and Batman star Val Kilmer dies aged 65: New York Times
Prolific American actor Val Kilmer, who was propelled to fame with "Top Gun" and went on to starring roles as Batman and Jim Morrison, has died at age 65, the New York Times reported Tuesday.

US movie theaters urge 45-day 'baseline' before films hit streaming
New films must be exclusive to movie theaters for at least 45 days before they become available on streaming, the head of the industry's US trade organization said Tuesday.

Newsmax shares surge more than 2,000% in days after IPO
Shares of the conservative cable news channel Newsmax have skyrocketed more than 2,000 percent in the two days since it began trading in New York, pushing the firm's market value above $26 billion.

Digging for box office gold, 'A Minecraft Movie' hits cinemas
With an A-list cast and a big budget, "A Minecraft Movie" releasing this week is hoping to follow in the slipstream of Super Mario Bros by turning a gaming phenomenon into a global cinema blockbuster.

Turkish fans, artists urge Muse to cancel Istanbul gig over protest dispute
British rock band Muse was facing pressure on Tuesday from fans and artists to cancel an upcoming Istanbul gig after the Turkish concert promoter lashed out at those involved in recent anti-government protests.

Undocumented migrants turn to Whatsapp to stay ahead of US raids
Fearing a US immigration raid will separate her from her children, an undocumented Honduran immigrant hunkers down in her Washington home, anxiously scouring a WhatsApp group for real-time updates on nearby sweeps.

Michelin Guide unveils new stars for 68 restaurants in France
The Michelin Guide awarded new stars to 68 restaurants in France on Monday at a ceremony that celebrated food as a tonic for the world's tensions and worries.

Hard-hitting drama 'Adolescence' to be shown in UK schools
The Netflix drama "Adolescence", which has sparked widespread debate about the toxic and misogynistic influences young boys are exposed to online, will be shown in UK secondary schools, the prime minister's office and the streaming giant said Monday.

After flops, movie industry targets fresh start at CinemaCon
This was meant to be the year the movies bounced back. But as the CinemaCon trade convention kicks off Monday in Las Vegas, theater owners are hoping and praying for signs that 2025 is back on track.

French chefs await new Michelin guide
The Michelin guide is set to unveil its latest rankings of restaurants in France on Monday, which will identify the up-and-coming talent challenging the country's stalwart three-star cooking celebrities.