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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.

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'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.

India opposition leader says Twitter 'curbing free speech'

The de facto head of India's main opposition party has complained to Twitter about "strange" activity on his account, accusing the US giant of being the "unwitting" ally of the government in curbing free speech.

Studio Ghibli theme park to open in Japan in November

A theme park based on the films of top anime studio Studio Ghibli, renowned for titles including the Oscar-winning "Spirited Away", will open in central Japan on November 1, the studio and local officials said Thursday.

Twitter suspends spoiler account for 'Wordle' answer reveal

Twitter suspended a bot account on Wednesday for spoiling the solution to the next day's Wordle, the wildly popular internet word puzzle.

Despite Covid hurdles, US orchestras find the joy in music

At the start of 2020, the National Symphony Orchestra was planning its first international tour with conductor Gianandrea Noseda, and an epic Beethoven cycle to mark the 250th anniversary of the legendary composer's birth.

Intel sales hit record on chip demand as shortage lingers

Intel on Wednesday said 2021 was a record year for sales at the chip maker as it navigated unprecedented demand and supply chain constraints.

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