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Ed Sheeran "over the moon" at birth of second daughter

Published On: May 20, 2022 01:00 PM NPT By: Reuters

Famed British singer and songwriter Ed Sheeran and his wife, Cherry Seaborn, have welcomed the birth of their second daughter. The award-winning singer posted a photo of a pair of tiny socks on Instagram on Thursday and wrote: "Want to let you all know we've had another beautiful baby girl. We are both so in love with her, and over the moon to be a family of 4 x."

'We are going to die': Sri Lanka warns of food shortages

Published On: May 20, 2022 12:23 PM NPT By: Reuters

COLOMBO, May 20: Sri Lanka's prime minister has warned of a food shortage as the island nation battles a devastating economic crisis and vowed the government will buy enough fertiliser for the next planting season to boost productivity.

Musicians Rihanna and A$AP Rocky welcome baby boy, TMZ reports

Published On: May 20, 2022 12:00 PM NPT By: Reuters

Pop singer Rihanna and rapper A$AP Rocky are new parents of a baby boy, according to a report on the TMZ website on Thursday. Rihanna, 34, gave birth on May 13 in Los Angeles, TMZ said, citing sources with knowledge of the matter. It is their first child.

Exclusive: U.S. aims to arm Ukraine with advanced anti-ship missiles to fight Russian blockade

Published On: May 20, 2022 07:17 AM NPT By: Reuters

WASHINGTON, May 20: The White House is working to put advanced anti-ship missiles in the hands of Ukrainian fighters to help defeat Russia's naval blockade, officials said, amid concerns more powerful weapons that could sink Russian warships would intensify the conflict.

It's gonna be all right, Taylor Swift tells NYU graduates at commencement

Published On: May 19, 2022 12:00 PM NPT By: Reuters

Singer-songwriter Taylor Swift received an honorary doctorate from New York University on Wednesday and told graduates that everything would be all right, echoing the sentiments of her hit single "Shake It Off." The 32-year-old urged students to make the most of their choices. "Life can be heavy - especially if you try to carry it all at once... all the grudges, all the updates on your ex.... You get to pick what your life has time and room for."

Russia uses new laser weapons in Ukraine, Zelenskiy mocks 'wonder weapon'

Published On: May 19, 2022 07:30 AM NPT By: Reuters

LONDON, May 18: Russia on Wednesday said it was using a new generation of powerful lasers in Ukraine to burn up drones, deploying some of Moscow's secret weapons to counter a flood of Western arms.

Royal wardrobe: a look at Queen Elizabeth's unique fashion style

Published On: May 18, 2022 05:15 PM NPT By: Reuters

From diplomatic dressing and priceless jewels, bold block colours and pearls to tweed and a headscarf - Britain's Queen Elizabeth is known for her unique wardrobe and style. Brightly coloured outfits with matching hats and umbrella trim, black pumps and her omnipresent handbag have become staples for the monarch, 96, who marks her Platinum Jubilee this year.

Picasso painting sells for $67.5 million at New York auction

Published On: May 18, 2022 03:30 PM NPT By: Reuters

The 1932 Pablo Picasso painting "Femme nue couchée" sold for $67.5 million on Tuesday at its auction debut at Sotheby's in New York, the most recent large sale at auction for blue-chip art. The eight-digit sale price comes a week after Andy Warhol's 1964 silk-screen portrait of Marilyn Monroe fetched $195 million at Christie's, setting a record for a work by an American artist sold at auction. read more

Cannes Film Festival opens with Zelenskiy appeal to world cinema

Published On: May 18, 2022 12:10 PM NPT By: Reuters

The Cannes Film Festival opened up Tuesday with crowded red carpet arrivals, a star-studded ceremony and a call from Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy for the world of cinema to speak out against the war.

China Eastern crash probe eyes intentional action - sources

Published On: May 18, 2022 08:35 AM NPT By: Reuters

WASHINGTON, May 18: Investigators looking into the crash of a China Eastern Airlines (600115.SS) jet are examining whether it was due to intentional action on the flight deck, with no evidence found of a technical malfunction, two people briefed on the matter said.

More than 250 Ukrainian troops surrender as Mariupol siege appears over

Published On: May 17, 2022 09:06 PM NPT By: Reuters

MARIUPOL, Ukraine, May 17: More than 250 Ukrainian fighters surrendered to Russian forces at the Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol and Kyiv said on Tuesday it had ordered its full garrison to evacuate, bringing an apparent end to the bloodiest battle in Europe for decades.

'Downton Abbey' returns with a silent movie and a trip to France

Published On: May 17, 2022 04:49 PM NPT By: Reuters

Twelve years since it first premiered, television hit "Downton Abbey" is back with a second stand-alone film about the fictitious Crawley family and their servants running a sprawling English country estate in the early 20th century.

Cannes Film Festival kicks into full swing for 75th anniversary

Published On: May 17, 2022 01:30 PM NPT By: Reuters

The Cannes Film Festival is gearing up for a bumper 75th anniversary edition with a selection of big Hollywood names, buzzy newcomers and previous Palme d'Or winners – a splashy return even as the conflict in Ukraine looms over festivities. "I honestly think this is one of the best Cannes line-ups in years," said Scott Roxborough, European bureau chief for The Hollywood Reporter.

Iraq balks at greater Chinese control of its oilfields

Published On: May 17, 2022 01:00 PM NPT By: Reuters

LONDON/BASRA, May 17: Iraq's oil ministry thwarted three prospective deals last year that would have handed Chinese firms more control over its oilfields and led to an exodus of international oil majors that Baghdad wants to invest in its creaking economy.

Ukraine's Kalush Orchestra feted on return home after Eurovision win

Published On: May 17, 2022 12:30 PM NPT By: Reuters

Ukraine's Kalush Orchestra returned to their homeland on Monday after an emotional Eurovision Song Contest victory, greeted at the border with Poland by servicemen and women whose cause the band had championed in Turin. Frontman Oleh Psiuk was presented with a bouquet of yellow and blue flowers - the colours of Ukraine's flag - and reunited with his girlfriend before he and his band launched into an impromptu version of "Stefania," their winning song.

Box Office: 'Doctor Strange 2' Rules Again as 'Firestarter' Flames Out

Published On: May 16, 2022 01:30 PM NPT By: Reuters

"Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" is again the No. 1 movie at the domestic box office. In its second weekend of release, the latest installment in Disney's Marvel Cinematic Universe has collected $61 million from 4,534 North American theaters. Ticket sales were down 67% from its opening weekend, marking a steeper drop off compared to recent Marvel movies like "Eternals" (which declined 61% in its second weekend) and "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings" (which declined 52% in its second weekend). However, that sizable decline is not surprising since "Doctor Strange 2" is coming off the 11th biggest opening weekend in history with $187 million. After 10 days on the big screen, the standalone superhero adventure has grossed a strong $291 million in North America.

Queen Elizabeth attends star-studded horse show finale

Published On: May 16, 2022 01:00 PM NPT By: Reuters

Britain's Queen Elizabeth attended the finale of a four-day horse show on Sunday that celebrated her 70 years on the throne and drew a star-studded cast including Hollywood actor Tom Cruise and British actor Helen Mirren. The 96-year-old monarch, wearing a grey shawl, was driven to the outdoor spectacle in the grounds of Windsor Castle where she was welcomed by two Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers who helped her from her Range Rover to cheers from crowds.

NATO expects Turkey not to hold up Finland, Sweden membership

Published On: May 16, 2022 07:43 AM NPT By: Reuters

BERLIN/STOCKHOLM, May 16: NATO and the United States said on Sunday they were confident Turkey would not hold up membership of Finland and Sweden in the Western military alliance, as the two Nordic states took firm steps to join in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Huge public support sweeps Ukraine's Kalush Orchestra to Eurovision win

Published On: May 15, 2022 12:30 PM NPT By: Reuters

Ukraine's Kalush Orchestra won the Eurovision Song Contest in Italy on Saturday with their entry "Stefania", riding a wave of public support to claim an emotional victory that was welcomed by the country's president. Sung in Ukrainian, the winning song fused rap with traditional folk music and was a tribute to band frontman Oleh Psiuk's mother. The bookmakers had made Kalush Orchestra the clear favourite for the annual contest, which normally draws a television audience of close to 200 million, based in part on popular sympathy for Ukraine following Russia's invasion in February.

India prohibits wheat exports with immediate effect

Published On: May 14, 2022 10:07 AM NPT By: Reuters

MUMBAI, May 14: India has prohibited wheat exports with immediate effect, the government said in a notification late on Friday, as the world's second-biggest wheat producer tries to calm local prices.