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FRANCE

It's that Beaujolais Nouveau time of year

Finally, it’s here: the official uncorking of the Beaujolais Nouveau, France’s favorite fruity wine. This year, the vintage is being touted as one of the best in half a century.

AFP

'Twilight' sequel a bleeding money-maker

The "Twilight" vampire romance sequel "New Moon" raked in 140.7 million dollars in its premiere weekend, a spectacular showing for the cult series, Exhibitor Relations said Sunday.Summit Entertainment's "The Twilight Saga: New Moon," which opened at

AFP

Antonio Banderas plans hotel at Spanish vineyard

Antonio Banderas wants to ramp up production at his vineyard in the north of Spain and build a hotel there, the Hollywood film star said in an interview published on Sunday."I have plans to revitalize this project with conferences, for example, on ...

AFP

Macau hotel to display Jacko 'moonwalk' glove

A hotel in the glitzy Asian gambling haven of Macau will display Michael Jackson's rhinestone-encrusted glove after paying 350,000 dollars for the piece of pop history at auction, the hotel said on Sunday.Jackson wore the sparkling glove when he ...

AFP

Swedish soprano Soderstrom dies

The Swedish soprano Elisabeth Soderstrom has died at the age of 82, the Royal Swedish Opera announced on Saturday.She died in a Stockholm hospital on Friday morning.During a career spanning half a century, the singer performed regularly at New ...

AFP

Simpsons' lampoon of Sarkozy sudden French web hit

Thousands of French Internet users flooded video sharing websites Friday to enjoy a lampoon of their glamourous first couple, almost a week after they appeared on the US show the Simpsons.Cartoon caricatures of President Nicolas Sarkozy and first ...

USA

Oprah Winfrey to end talk show in 2011 after 25th season

Oprah Winfrey, one of the most influential and highly paid women on television, has announced that she is ending her hugely popular daytime talk show after its 25th season concludes in 2011.

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AFP

Sarandon gets lifetime achievement award at Stockholm film fest

American actress Susan Sarandon was on Saturday honoured with a lifetime achievement award at the Stockholm film festival."The roles Susan Sarandon has played often gain a life of their own beyond the films themselves," said Swedish actor Gustaf ...

AFP

No reply this Christmas as US blocks Santa mail

No matter if children are naughty or nice, they won't get a reply from Santa this year, as the US Postal Service has blocked mail to a tiny Alaska town that answered Christmas letters for decades.Since 1954, thousands of volunteers in the ...

AFP

Strong Asia presence at Saint Laurent auction

Buyers from Asia purchased all but one of the top 10 priciest items at the sale of the last belongings of late couturier Yves Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Berge, Christie's said Friday.As the four-day sale wound up, the auction house said ...

AFP

Beaujolais nouveau hot in Japan - literally

Japan's craze for Beaujolais nouveau has beaten the global recession, with tourists taking a dip Thursday in a hot mountain spring coloured red with the fruity wine.The Hakone Kowakien Yunessun spa resort celebrated the annual uncorking of the ...

THE OBSERVERS

Spray cans in Tehran – risky but increasingly popular

The most famous piece of Iranian graffiti is probably the deathly Statue of Liberty painted on the wall of the former US Embassy in Tehran.

THE OBSERVERS

Couples Retreat poster omits black actors for UK audience

On the left, the US poster for Hollywood comedy romance "Couples Retreat". On the left, the same ad, but redesigned for a UK audience

CINEMA

Clint Eastwood awarded one of France's top honours

American actor and director Clint Eastwood can now add Commander of the French Legion of Honour to his list of achievements, after receiving one of France's highest honours from President Nicolas Sarkozy.

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AFP

British actor Edward Woodward dies aged 79

British actor Edward Woodward, famous for film and TV roles including "The Wicker Man," Australian feature "Breaker Morant" and US series "The Equalizer," died in hospital Monday aged 79, his agent said.Woodward had been suffering from various ...

FRANCE

Goncourt prize winner NDiaye stands by Sarkozy 'police state' comments

French-Senegalese author Marie NDiaye, who last week won France's top literary prize, the Goncourt,says she stands by her comments about President Nicolas Sarkozy creating the "atmosphere of a police state" in France.

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AFP

Jackson movie passes 200 million dollar mark

Michael Jackson's posthumous movie farewell "This Is It" has surged past the 200-million-dollar mark in worldwide earnings since its release two weeks ago, Sony Pictures said Thursday.The film, a behind-the-scenes look at Jackson's preparations for ...