Recently-elected mayor of Rome Gianni Alemanno hopes to shift the focus city's film festival from celebrities to a celebration of Italian-produced film. The festival, in its second year, was inaugurated only two years ago by Alemanno's predecessor.

'Pirates of the Caribbean' director Gore Verbinski will make a movie out of the award-winning videogame 'BioShock,' a futuristic underwater utopia gone disastrously wrong.

"W", Oliver Stone's political biography of President George W. Bush, will hit US screens in October, one month ahead of the presidential election. The director of 'JFK' and 'Platoon' said the main character would make his new film "funnier."

The Vatican's official website now features a Latin section, alongside the site's six modern languages. The pages called 'Sancta Sedes' (Holy See) are intended to remind viewers that Latin is still the official language of the Roman Catholic Church.

Intended to help meditation, long painted banners known as Thangkas portray the Dalai Lama or Buddhist deities. Chinese authorities have banned them in Tibet and scholars now have to travel to Dharamasala in India to learn the century-old skills.

The glorious Grand Palais in Paris has opened its huge nave to the American contemporary sculptor Richad Serra. Designed to interact with the environment, his new creation 'Promenade' fills visitors with a sensation of Vertigo.

A former concertmaster at the London Philarmonic, the Bulgarian violinist Albena Danailova is set to become the first ever female leader at Vienna's State Opera. The venerable Austrian institution only opened its doors to women ten years ago.

Overlooking the Seine, the building once loved by renowned French architect Le Corbuisier has been turned into the French capital's new temple of design and fashion. It's task: to ensure Paris remains a hub of artistic daring.

As he opened the Turin book fair, Italian President Giorgio Napolitano was highly critical of protestors calling for a boycott of the fair due to the choice of Israel as this year's guest of honour.

After festivals in Madagascar and Paris, the largest event of African contemporary dance takes place this year in the Tunisian capital.

6 millions copies of the latest version of 'Grand Theft Auto' were sold in six months for a total profit of $500 million. The game's violent reuptation has stirred controversy over its alleged influence on young gamers.

French antique posters are becoming more and more expensive and sought after. In sales such as this one at the Paris-based Drouot auction house, their price can run into hundreds of thousands of euros. (Story: J. André)

NYC has begun its annual spring art auctions. Despite the economic crisis, prices expected should be record high. One of the major pieces - a Bacon triptych - is estimated at 70 million dollars; one Monet has already fetched a record sum.

Fans of pop superstar-turned-sexy-rock-queen Madonna had a surprise when the feisty performer confessed at a private concert in Paris on Tuesday night that she loves to french-kiss the French.

British singer Cliff Richard may have won the 1968 Eurovision contest instead of taking second place, according to a Spanish documentary which claims dictator Franco rigged the vote in favour of Spanish singer Massiel.

This glamorous fashion event permits the best designers from around the country to create a new version of their traditional evening dress. This year's Caftan draws influence from punk and rock.

Tariq Ramadan and other Muslim intellectuals are holding a two-day seminar entitled "Western democracies and ethnic cleansing in Palestine" to demonstrate their opposition to the choice of Israel as honoured guest.

Not only did the events of May 68 forever change the cultural and political landscape in France, they also transformed the fashion scene, as young French women discovered a new sense of style.

Shahrukh Khan, considered to be Bollywood's biggest star, with 50 movies under his belt, has become a wax statue at the Paris Grévin Museum. After Gandhi, the actor is the second Indian national to grace this famous museum.