Drinks on the table at World Health Organisation summit
AFP - Sunday May 18, 03:32 PM
GENEVA (AFP) - The World Health Organisation faces pressure to take a tough stance on alcohol consumption at its annual assembly in Geneva this week amid fears industry lobby groups will water down any proposals.

Hello Kitty to be appointed Japan's tourism ambassador: report
AFP - Sunday May 18, 02:42 PM
TOKYO (AFP) - Japan will on Monday appoint the mouthless feline cartoon character Hello Kitty as a goodwill tourism ambassador in China and Hong Kong, with the aim of promoting visits here, Kyodo News has reported.

From refugee camp to red carpet, Penn brings aid movie to Cannes
AFP - Sunday May 18, 02:38 PM
CANNES, France (AFP) - A small flick went from refugee camp to red carpet Friday as Sean Penn, backed by rock star Bono and film-maker Michael Moore, brought an Australian aid worker's tsunami film to the Cannes fest.

Grail or whip for Indy at Cannes?
AFP - Sunday May 18, 02:29 PM
CANNES, France (AFP) - Indiana Jones on Sunday faces his most perilous quest, a whipping by the critics or the Holy Grail of success.

Edgy Philippine drama enters the race at Cannes
AFP - Sunday May 18, 12:09 PM
CANNES, France, (AFP) - A hard-hitting Filipino film about a family living in a porn movie theatre, "Serbis", enters the running for Cannes gold Sunday in a boost to the country's struggling independent cinema sector.

Minute of silence for China quake victims at Cannes
AFP - Sunday May 18, 07:42 AM
CANNES, France (AFP) - The director and cast of China's lone competitor for Cannes' coveted Palme d'Or award observed a minute of silence Saturday in memory of the victims of this week's devastating earthquake.

Search for sexy new 'Emmanuelle' kicks off in Cannes
AFP - Sunday May 18, 06:44 AM
CANNES, France (AFP) - The search is on to find a "fresh, unknown talent" to star in the first steamy "Emmanuelle" feature film to be made in years.

Anti-clergy protest marks pope trip to Italian north
AFP - Sunday May 18, 06:31 AM
GENOA, Italy (AFP) - Pope Benedict XVI sparked a protest Saturday by campaigners angry at the Catholic Church's powerful influence in the country as he flew into northern Italy for a two-day trip.

Jane Birkin to march for Myanmar at Cannes film fest
AFP - Sunday May 18, 05:35 AM
PARIS (AFP) - British-born singer and actress Jane Birkin will join a protest on the sidelines of the Cannes film festival Monday to highlight the critical ordeal of the two million survivors of Myanmar's cyclone disaster.

In Raul Castro's reforms in Cuba, Internet remains restricted
AFP - Sunday May 18, 04:56 AM
HAVANA (AFP) - Cuba's recent social and economic reforms do not include allowing greater access to the Internet, authorities in the Americas' only one-party communist state said.