Johnny Hallyday, France's biggest rock star for more than half a century and an icon who packed sports stadiums and all but lit up the Eiffel Tower with his pumping pelvis and high-voltage tunes, has died. He was 74.

President Emmanuel Macron announced his death in a statement early Wednesday, saying "he brought a part of America into our national pantheon." Macron's office said the president spoke with Hallyday's family but did not provide details about where the rocker died or the circumstances.

The sixth and final season of "House of Cards" -- the hit Netflix series thrown into crisis by sexual assault allegations against Kevin Spacey -- is to resume production early next year without its star, an industry source told AFP Monday.

The Metropolitan Opera has announced it would investigate claims that its music director sexually abused a teenage boy decades ago, as the U.S. avalanche of misconduct allegations spread to classical music.

"We are deeply disturbed by the news articles that are being published online today about James Levine," said the New York house, one of the world's most prestigious opera companies.

Neil Young on Friday opened an exhaustive online archive of his half-century career, as the rock legend charged ahead on a politically loaded new album.

Indonesia's metalhead president received a thrash-worthy present from his Danish counterpart Wednesday.

Japan and China have more of the world's best restaurants than anywhere else, according to the La Liste ranking, which will be published next week.

Meghan Markle says acting will take a back seat when she marries Prince Harry, following the example of screen icon Grace Kelly who abandoned Hollywood to marry into royalty.

Another actress added her name Monday to the dozens accusing movie mogul Harvey Weinstein of a litany of depraved sexual misconduct as he was forced to quit Hollywood's directing union.   

Britain's Prince Harry said Monday he proposed to his American girlfriend Meghan Markle over a roast chicken dinner as the one-time playboy royal and the glamorous actress confirmed they will wed next year.

He is a tourist attraction worth travelling a long way to see -- Jonathan the giant tortoise is perhaps the world's oldest land animal, living in pampered luxury on the remote British island of St. Helena.