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The Cairo International Film Festival opened its 47th edition with a ceremony attended by film stars and filmmakers from Egypt and abroad. The edition coincides with 50 years since the festival was launched. The event looked back at its history and its standing in Arab and international cinema, according to CNN Arabic.
British author M. John Harrison has won the 2026 Booker Prize for a satirical dystopian novel, known in Arabic as "The End of Everything". At 81, he becomes the oldest winner in the prize's history.
A British court on Monday sentenced comedian and actor Russell Brand to more than 10 years in prison after he was convicted of raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others. The Wall Street Journal reported the term as 10½ years, handed down after a jury reached its verdict following a four-week trial. Justice Bennathan said Brand had lied during the trial and showed disregard for women's right to refuse, and he praised the bravery of the victims.
Israeli journalist Barak David has criticized commentators Moria Asraf and Eyal Berkovich of Israel's Channel 13 over a TV segment he described as racist. According to RT Arabic, the segment mocked the idea of a Muslim or an Arab being a doctor. The available report gives no further detail on the segment and no response from the channel or the commentators.
Singer Assala Nasri performed at the "UAE Loves Syria" event at Zabeel Park in Dubai on Saturday. During the show she paid a special tribute to veteran Syrian actress Mona Wassef, who was among those honored at the event, according to CNN Arabic.
US federal agents arrested Thomas Markle, 82, the father of Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, in Florida on Friday, and he was charged in connection with possessing child sexual abuse material, according to the FBI. The Associated Press reported that he was taken into custody at a senior care facility in Polk county, made a brief appearance in federal court in Tampa and was released on condition of electronic monitoring. The Wall Street Journal reported that federal authorities allege he kept explicit images in two storage units in California.
Syrian singer Assala Nasri said on Friday that her jewelry box was stolen while she was touring the United States. She said she found it missing from her bag at the hotel on the morning after her concert in Detroit. CNN Arabic described the incident as a loss, while Sky News Arabia reported a theft inside the hotel.
Egypt's House of Representatives on Tuesday approved a 2 million euro partnership agreement with the French Development Agency. The funding will support the second phase of a project to improve the teaching of French as a second foreign language in state schools.
American filmmaker Michael Mann was hurt by an accidental gunshot at a shooting range in Los Angeles on Saturday. Mann is best known for his crime and gangster films.
Turki Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority, posted a humorous video of an Egyptian play's cast on his official Facebook page on Sunday. The play is scheduled to be staged as part of the seventh edition of Riyadh Season.
The production company announced on Wednesday that the Syrian series Abu Janti will return with a third season, expected to air during the 2027 Ramadan drama season. The show stars Samer al-Masri, and actress Shakran Murtaja is set to reprise her role as Suad.
Cardiovascular specialist Sergey Vishtomov has cautioned that feeling short of breath even while resting can be dangerous. He said the symptom may be linked to heart problems.
Egypt's El Gouna International Film Festival wrapped up its ninth edition on Friday. The closing ceremony honored Moroccan filmmaker Fawzi Bensaidi and paid special tribute to Egyptian artists who died over the past year.
American actor Tom Skerritt, who appeared in both "Alien" and "Top Gun", died on Wednesday at the age of 93. RT Arabic, citing his family, reported that he died of natural causes. His career spanned a wide range of film and television work.
Lebanese singer Fadl Shaker took the stage in Riyadh on Thursday for his first concert in the Saudi capital, ending a break of nearly 14 years from live performances. According to CNN Arabic, the evening was marked by a mix of nerves, emotion and longing.
The 34th Arab Music Festival and Conference opened on Tuesday at the Cairo Opera House in Egypt. The opening concert honored Egyptian singer Hany Shaker, known as the "Prince of Arab Song," who died last May. This year's edition is dedicated to his name.
A feature in Grand Theft Auto VI that lets players build and nurture a romantic relationship with a virtual character has prompted debate over whether it amounts to cheating on a real-life partner. Some people see pursuing a romance with a fictional character as excessive, according to BBC Arabic.
The 9th edition of the El Gouna Film Festival opened on Thursday, October 15, and runs through October 23. The opening ceremony honored Egyptian actress Mona Zaki with the Creative Achievement Award.
Lebanese singer Nancy Ajram released a new song, 'Bastafezzak', on Wednesday. It is available on her official YouTube channel and several music streaming platforms. She appears in it as a sweets seller, according to CNN Arabic.
Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Tuesday received a rare artifact returned by Australia, dating to around 12,000 BC. According to Al Jazeera, the piece, together with two other fragments held in Jordan, makes up what is considered the oldest known large-scale sculpture in the world, and its return comes after about four decades.
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