The Cannes film festival is to end decades of tradition next year by awarding its top Palme d'Or prize on a Saturday rather than a Sunday, its organizers said Wednesday.

On the initiative of LiBank S.A.L. (Levant Investment Bank), in partnership with M.media, and in collaboration with the Lebanese-Brazilian Cultural Institute, and co-organization of Né a Beyrouth Films, Dream Box Productions and Tripoli Film Festival; The Panorama of Lebanese Cinema Festival (Este Eo Libano: Panorama Do Cinema Libanes) will be launching a first of its kind event in Brazil.

The festival, which will be held in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paolo between 23-29 November, will open with screenings of the film "The Insult" by director Ziad Doueiri (special private screenings on 21 and 22 November). It will be joined by many other wide-ranging films from Lebanese cinema, including Maroun Baghdadi's "Out of Life”, the latest documentary by Hadi Zakak “Ya Omri (104 Wrinkles)”, Doueiri’s debut film “West Beirut”, Nadine Labaki’s “Where Do We Go Now?”, "Very Big Shot” by Mir-Jean Bou Chaaya, and Ziad Rahbani’s classic play “What About Tomorrow?” and many more.

The 1969 murder spree by followers of Charles Manson spawned decades of fascination -- and revulsion -- with the apocalyptic cult leader and the grisly crimes committed at the height of the counter-culture movement.

For many at the time, Manson, with his crazed eyes, beard and long, unkempt hair, was the dark face of a drug-fueled hippie movement that was consuming America's youth.

Charles Manson, the psychopathic guru who masterminded a savage killing spree in the United States in the late 1960s that shocked the world, has died aged 83, California prison officials said.

Manson "died of natural causes at 8:13 pm (0213 GMT Monday) on Sunday" at a hospital in Kern County, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said in a brief statement.

German police on Monday arrested a 58-year-old man in Berlin on suspicion of handling stolen items from John Lennon's estate, including the late Beatle's diaries.

A proposal to ban smoking in French films has been met with splutters of indignation in a land raised on images of puffing, pouting silver-screen stars.

Supermodel Naomi Campbell and Tunisia's president led mourners in a final tribute Monday to French-Tunisian fashion designer Azzedine Alaia, who died this month aged 77 after winning a worldwide following.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip celebrate 70 years of marriage on Monday, becoming Britain's first reigning couple to mark a platinum wedding anniversary.

Bruno Mars took the top prize at the American Music Awards on Sunday at a show that paid glowing tribute to legendary divas Diana Ross and the late Whitney Houston.

A jury has found that a businesswoman must pay $5 million to singer Katy Perry and the archdiocese of Los Angeles, finding that the woman intentionally interfered with the sale to Perry of a hilltop property that was once a convent.

The jury found Friday that entrepreneur Dana Hollister should pay the archdiocese $3.47 million and Perry $1.57 million for interference with contractual relations and other misdeeds.