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Record sale for Magritte at London auction: Sotheby's
"L'Empire des lumieres" was sold for £59.4 million ($79.4 million, 71.4 million euros) in London on Wednesday, shattering the record for a work by Belgian artist Rene Magritte.
Amazon opens Luna video game streaming to anyone in US
Amazon launched its Luna video game streaming service for the general public on Tuesday in the United States, aiming to expand its multi-pronged empire into the booming gaming industry.
Dior unveils 'protective' clothing for a time of crisis
Dior's show at Paris Fashion Week on Tuesday struck a sombre tone, with designer Maria Grazia Chiuri telling AFP her focus on combining "beauty and protection" was apt for a time of war.
UK's 'festival of Brexit' begins, without nationalism
A creativity festival to celebrate British ingenuity after Brexit, conceived before the pandemic, kicks off on Tuesday with project leaders insisting the show has nothing to do with nationalism.
Putin-friendly French actor Depardieu objects to 'fratricidal' war
French actor Gerard Depardieu, a friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin, on Tuesday came out against the war in Ukraine and called for negotiations.
Music world shuns Russian maestro Gergiev over Putin ties
One of Germany's top orchestras fired Russian maestro and Kremlin loyalist, Valery Gergiev, as its chief conductor on Tuesday after he failed to denounce Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, capping a stunning fall from grace for the classical music superstar.
Japan's Maezawa to sell Basquiat estimated at $70 million
Japanese billionaire space tourist Yusaku Maezawa is putting one of his Basquiat artworks up for sale, an auction house has said, hoping for around $13 million profit on the piece.
A yak at the Oscars: first nomination for Bhutanese film
Filmed in one of the remotest corners in one of the world's most inaccessible countries, "Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom", is the first Bhutanese film ever nominated for an Academy Award.
At Met Opera, a balancing act between the traditional and cutting-edge
The Metropolitan Opera in recent years has taken steps to draw in new opera-goers with more modern works, this year launching its season with its first piece by a Black composer.
Twitter to label tweets linking to Russian state media
Twitter will put warnings on tweets sharing links to Russian state-affiliated media, the platform said Monday, as Kremlin-tied outlets are accused of spreading misinformation on Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
TikTok videos get longer in challenge to YouTube
TikTok on Monday began letting users upload videos as long as 10 minutes, ramping up the young platform's challenge to veteran titan YouTube.
Paris Fashion Week kicks off in glamorous but 'solemn' wartime mood
The stars came out for the opening night of Paris Fashion Week on Monday, which looked set for a return to pre-pandemic normality until the war in Ukraine forced organisers to strike a sombre tone.
Paris Fashion Week kicks off in 'solemn' wartime mood
Two years on from France's first pandemic lockdown, Paris Fashion Week is almost back to full attendance, but the war in Ukraine led organisers to strike a sombre tone as shows got underway on Monday.
Neil Diamond sells complete catalog to Universal
Neil Diamond, the hitmaker behind "Sweet Caroline" and "Red Red Wine," sold his complete publishing and master recordings catalogs to Universal Music Group, the company said Monday.
Paris concert hall cancels star Russian conductor
The prestigious Philharmonie concert hall in Paris became the latest arts institution to bar star Russian conductor Valery Gergiev on Monday over his close ties to President Vladimir Putin.
French art star Messager opens Tel Aviv retrospective
French artist Annette Messager, a global star whose retrospective opens in Israel on Tuesday, says her work has been changed by the Covid pandemic, "the masks we wear and all the death".
How a pensioner made Spanish banks rethink counter services
It was his bank's limited counter service and indifference to his struggles with ATMs and apps that forced a Spanish pensioner to act, highlighting the panic the digital revolution is causing many older people.
Fake social media accounts aimed at Ukraine, says Meta
Pro-Russia groups are orchestrating misinformation campaigns on social media, using fake profiles or hacked accounts to paint Ukraine as a feeble pawn of Western duplicity, Meta said Sunday.
Deaf drama 'CODA' wins top prize at SAG awards
"CODA," a heartfelt indie drama about a struggling deaf family, won the top prize at the Screen Actors Guild awards Sunday, boosting its hopes as a potential dark horse for next month's Oscars.
Puffy and fluffy, with shoulders: Five trends from Milan Fashion Week
Milan Fashion Week wraps up Monday after six days of catwalk presentations showcasing the best of Fall/Winter 2022/2023, Italian-style.
Israeli spytech firm NSO sues newspaper for defamation
The embattled Israeli spytech firm NSO Group filed Sunday a defamation lawsuit against a newspaper that reported its Pegasus software had been used by police against dozens of prominent Israelis.
French ballet director quits Russia company over Ukraine invasion
French ballet master Laurent Hilaire has resigned from his position as director of the Stanilavski Theatre company in Moscow over the Russian invasion of Ukraine, he told AFP on Sunday.
Musk activates Starlink internet service in Ukraine
Elon Musk said Saturday his company SpaceX's Starlink satellite broadband service had been activated in Ukraine, after a Kyiv official urged the tech titan to provide his embattled country with stations.
Sidewalk is new catwalk outside Milan fashion shows
A cry goes up the from crowd, a sea of craning necks and suddenly hundreds of cellphones go up in the air clicking photos.
Facebook bans Russia state media from running ads, monetizing
Facebook on Friday restricted Russian state media's ability to earn money on the social media platform as Moscow's invasion of neighboring Ukraine reached the streets of Kyiv.
Pattinson suits up for macabre new 'Batman'
Robert Pattinson had never been interested in playing a superhero -- until Ben Affleck quit his role as Batman, leaving the famous cape unexpectedly up for grabs.
Nul points: Eurovision bars Russia over Ukraine conflict
No Russian entertainers will be permitted to take part in this year's Eurovision Song Contest following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the European Broadcasting Union said Friday.
Gucci and Adidas are BFF at Milan Fashion Week
Why have one logo when you can have two?
'Crime and catastrophe': Russian stars say no to war
A number of prominent Russians are echoing a chorus of global celebrities condemning Moscow's war on Ukraine, with some already beginning to suffer the consequences for defying the Kremlin line.
Kim Kardashian urges quick divorce from Kanye
Reality TV star Kim Kardashian has urged a US court to expedite her divorce, saying it would help husband Ye to accept the relationship is over.
Putin supporter Gergiev axed from Carnegie Hall shows
In an extraordinary last-minute move, Manhattan's Carnegie Hall announced Thursday that acclaimed Russian conductor Valery Gergiev, a close supporter of Vladimir Putin, will no longer lead the Vienna Philharmonic in a concert series this weekend.
'Sunglasses hide tears' as show goes on at Milan Fashion Week
The fashion set put their best face forward on Thursday despite worries over the invasion of Ukraine, as Milan Fashion Week guests and workers vowed to go on with the shows.
Lebanese turn to public libraries to check out of financial crunch
In many countries, public libraries are considered a dying relic amid the shift to digital, but in Lebanon they are getting a new lease of life as its economy flatlines.
Meta lays out moves being made to build the metaverse
Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg on Wednesday talked up his company's efforts to build the metaverse, an immersive virtual world he has billed as the Facebook parent's future.
Twitter mistakenly pulled accounts monitoring Russian troops
Twitter acknowledged Wednesday it suspended in error some accounts relaying information about Russian military movements as the threat builds for an attack on Ukraine.
Dublin film festival returns after bumper year for Irish film
The Dublin International Film Festival, forced online last year, opened Tuesday with stars of the feted Irish-language "An Cailin Ciuin" ("The Quiet Girl") taking to the red carpet in the centre of the Irish capital.
Tunisia withdraws 'Death on the Nile' over Israeli actress
Tunisia has withdrawn from cinemas a new Agatha Christie adaptation starring Israeli actress Gal Gadot, following protests over "normalisation" with the Jewish state, officials said Wednesday.
Michelangelo's three 'pietas' united in historic first
It is admired the world over as an exquisite depiction of maternal grief. But Michelangelo's "Pieta" has overshadowed two other moving sculptures on the same subject by the Renaissance giant.
Fashion set heads to Milan for live shows -- for real this time
The who's who of Italian fashion retakes the runway with the return of Milan women's shows Wednesday, which organisers hope will boost an industry stifled by two years of coronavirus.