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Filmmakers defend Berlin festival chief in Gaza row

Filmmakers defend Berlin festival chief in Gaza row

Actors and filmmakers rushed to defend the head of the Berlin film festival Thursday following a media report that her job was on the line over a director's anti-Israel speech at the event. Syrian-Palestinian filmmaker Abdallah Al-Khatib kicked off a controversy during Saturday's

Hong Kong mogul Jimmy Lai wins appeal in fraud case

Hong Kong mogul Jimmy Lai wins appeal in fraud case

Hong Kong pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai won an appeal on Thursday over a 2022 fraud conviction, days after a court jailed him on separate national security charges. The ruling was a surprise win for Lai, the 78-year-old founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper, who

Merz says Germany, China must overcome trade gaps 'together'

Merz says Germany, China must overcome trade gaps 'together'

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz ended his two-day visit to China on Thursday in the tech hub of Hangzhou, identifying "challenges that we must overcome together" after meeting President Xi Jinping and announcing an Airbus deal. Merz's first official visit to China came as Berlin and

Automaker Stellantis posts massive loss, pivots from EV

Automaker Stellantis posts massive loss, pivots from EV

Troubled automaker Stellantis, behind brands like Jeep and Fiat, announced Thursday a net loss of 22.3 billion euros ($26.3 billion) for last year, blaming a lack of demand for electric vehicles. The group said earlier this month it would incur colossal charges to finance a shift back to

Cuba kills four on US-registered speedboat trying to 'infiltrate'

Cuba kills four on US-registered speedboat trying to 'infiltrate'

Cuba said it thwarted gunmen trying to infiltrate from the United States as its coastguard opened fire Wednesday at a Florida-registered speedboat near its shores, killing four people and wounding six. The clash was a new source of tension with Washington as the communist-ruled nation endures intense US

Snake-like robot unveiled for Fukushima debris removal

Snake-like robot unveiled for Fukushima debris removal

A 22-metre robot arm will help remove a third sample of radioactive debris from inside Japan's stricken Fukushima nuclear plant, its operator said Thursday, as it unveiled the snake-like device. Dangerously high radiation levels make removing melted fuel and other debris from the plant hit by

S.Korea's Park Chan-wook to head Cannes festival jury

S.Korea's Park Chan-wook to head Cannes festival jury

South Korean filmmaker Park Chan‑wook, the first from his country to head the Cannes film festival jury, will preside over the 79th edition in May, organisers announced Thursday. A statement named the director behind "Oldboy" (2003) as president of the body that will award the 2026 Palme