The king of late-night television, David Letterman, brought the curtain down on a 33-year career in an emotional final show packed with jokes and farewells from U.S. presidents, Hollywood stars and devoted fans.

The last-ever "Late Show with David Letterman" brings to an end an American cultural institution that has been watched by millions and an extraordinary career that has inspired a generation of comedians.

A U.S. senator is among those condemning a rape scene on HBO's "Game of Thrones."

In a comment tweeted Tuesday, Sen. Claire McCaskill described the sexual assault as "gratuitous" and "disgusting." The Democratic lawmaker from Missouri said she was done with the show.

Malek Jandali may only have been alive for four decades but the award-winning composer insists he feels ancient, having revived some of the oldest melodies from his war-torn Syrian homeland.

"I'm 8,000 years old," said the pianist, in the middle of a world tour he hopes will spread "peace and freedom" three years after leaving Syria just as war was tearing it apart.

Michael Caine, Jane Fonda and Harvey Keitel are combining their legendary acting heft to one of the Cannes Film Festival's most-anticipated movies this year, "Youth", which gets its premiere on Wednesday.

The film, directed by Italian Paolo Sorrentino, who won an Oscar last year for his story of Italian decay, "The Great Beauty", is an ensemble piece filmed in English and set in the Alps.

Far from the limelight of Cannes, Greece's last painter of film posters toils away in a little garden studio to deliver his latest commission.

Vassilis Dimitriou is 80 years old, works alone and knows his days on the job are numbered -- his left hand trembles from the early onset of Parkinson's disease.

A French incest "fairytale" brought a touch of scandal to the Cannes Film Festival Tuesday but even the frisson of illicit sex couldn't save the movie from a critical mauling.

"Marguerite and Julien", one of five French movies among the 19 contenders for the top prize at the world's biggest cinema showcase, tells the true story of aristocratic siblings in 16th century France whose deep love turns into physical passion when they reach adolescence.

Who knew Leonardo DiCaprio had an eye for Chanel bags?

The actor plunked down 10,000 euros ($13,620 for a blue Chanel Neoprene flap bag, embroidered with flowers, on the Croisette on Monday night. But it was all for charity, as part of an auction at the annual Heart Fund Gala, also attended by Paris Hilton, actor Gary Dourdan and featuring a performance by Yasiin Bey (formerly known as Mos Def).

Nicki Minaj and Chris Brown on Monday led the nominations for the Black Entertainment Television awards, with each in the running in six categories.

Minaj, one of the most prominent female rappers, was nominated for best woman in hip-hop and five other awards.

The king of late-night American television, David Letterman, broadcasts his final show Wednesday, ending a 33-year run of unpredictable, caustic comedy that set him apart.

The longest-serving nighttime talk show host in US TV with more than 6,000 shows to his name, 68-year-old Letterman has been honored with tributes in US media, and by a host of celebrities.

Maverick New York director Abel Ferrara has turned to Kickstarter to help fund his new project, a nightmarish road movie starring Willem Dafoe, he told reporters at the Cannes Film Festival.

The filmmaker, known for classics such as "Bad Lieutenant" and "King of New York", gave a typically energetic press conference on the sidelines of the festival to describe his new project, dubbed "Siberia".