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By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON, Dec 29 (Reuters) – A veteran jazz ensemble announced on Monday it was canceling its New Year's Eve performances at the Kennedy Center, the latest group to withdraw from the Washington arts institution after it was renamed to include U.S. President Donald Trump. "Jazz was born from struggle and from a relentless insistence on freedom: freedom of thought, of expression, and of the full human voice. Some of us have been making this music for many decades, and that history still shapes us," the Cookers jazz ensemble said in a statement. The Kennedy Center had promoted two New Year's Eve performances by the Cookers as an "all-star jazz septet that will ignite the Terrace Theater stage with fire and soul." Richard Grenell, a longtime ally of the U.S. president whom Trump named as the center's president, said on Monday that such boycotts are a "form of derangement syndrome" and the cancelations are coming from artists booked by the institution's previous leadership. He has previously termed cancelations a "political stunt." The withdrawal adds to a growing list of cancellations since the name change was announced this month by the Center's board, which the Republican president filled with allies during a broad takeover earlier this year. A Christmas Eve jazz concert was canceled last week, with the host of the show, musician Chuck Redd, attributing it to the name change. The New York Times reported that Doug Varone and Dancers, a New York dance company, has pulled out of two April performances.Democrats have called the decision by the board of the Kennedy Center to add Trump's name to the institution illegal, while John F. Kennedy’s family denounced the move as undermining the slain president's legacy. The board voted to rename the arts venue The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, or Trump Kennedy Center for short. Trump has been eager to put his stamp on Washington and his name on buildings in his second term. His critics say he has compromised institutions by installing loyalists and making funding threats. Trump says he is tackling what he calls those institutions' liberal bias. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; editing by Colleen Jenkins and Saad Sayeed)

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PARIS, Dec 30 (Reuters) – Hollywood star George Clooney and his wife, human rights lawyer Amal Clooney, have obtained French citizenship, along with their two children, official French government documents show. Clooney told broadcaster RTL earlier this month that it was essential for him and his wife that their eight-year-old twins Alexander and Ella could live in a place where they had a chance to live a normal life. “Here, they don’t take photos of kids. There aren’t any paparazzi hidden at the school gates. That’s number one for us,” he told RTL on December 2. The couple purchased a house on a vineyard, with an estimated value of around 9 million euros ($10.59 million), in the southern French town of Brignoles in 2021. The property also includes a swimming pool and a tennis court, according to French media. "We also have a house in the United States, but our happiest place is on this farm where the kids can have fun," he said. U.S. film director Jim Jarmusch on Friday told France Inter radio that he would also make an application to obtain French citizenship. "I would like to have another place to escape from America if necessary," he told France Inter. "And France, and Paris, and French culture are very deep in me. So I think I would be very honored if I could have a French passport," he said. ($1 = 0.8495 euros) (Reporting by Louise Breusch Rasmussen, editing by Sharon Singleton)

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Dec 29 (Reuters) – Actor Idris Elba and ice dancers Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean were among the hundreds named in King Charles's New Year honours list published on Monday. The full list includes more than 1,157 people in politics, sport, the arts or community service to be awarded titles from Member, Commander or Officer of the Order of the British Empire to the highest honours of knighthoods and damehoods. Elba, who is known for his roles in the television series "Luther" and "The Wire", was awarded a knighthood for his anti-knife crime campaigning with young people. Torvill and Dean, whose 1984 Olympic Bolero routine earned perfect scores and became a defining moment in British sport, were both honoured – she as a dame and he as a knight. HONORARY DAMEHOOD FOR WOMEN'S SOCCER COACH And following from the England women's soccer team's back-to-back Euro title success this year, coach Sarina Wiegman – a Dutch national – was awarded an honorary damehood. Several of the Lionesses were also recognised in the honours list. "This year's honours list celebrates the very best of Britain – people who put the common good ahead of themselves to strengthen communities and change lives," Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a statement. Cynthia Erivo, an Oscar-nominated and Emmy, Grammy and Tony award-winning actor who is best known for her lead role as Elphaba Thropp in the 2024 musical film "Wicked," was given an Order of the British Empire. Warwick Davis, who has appeared in the "Star Wars", "Harry Potter" and "Willow" franchises, and founded the dwarfism charity Little People UK, was also awarded an OBE. Actor and writer Meera Syal, whose credits include "Goodness Gracious Me", "The Kumars at No. 42" and the novel "Anita and Me", was made a dame. From the world of business, supermarket chain Sainsbury's chief executive Simon Roberts was awarded a CBE, as was former National Grid boss John Pettigrew. The New Year honours, which have been awarded since at least 1890, aim to recognise not just well-known figures but people who have contributed to national life through often unsung work over many years. Those honoured will receive their awards at investiture ceremonies held later in 2026 at royal residences such as Buckingham Palace. (Reporting by Andy Bruce; editing by Barbara Lewis)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

SAINT-TROPEZ, France, Dec 29 (Reuters) – French film icon Brigitte Bardot, who died on Sunday aged 91, will be buried in a cemetery by the sea in the French Riviera resort of Saint-Tropez, local authorities said on Monday. The funeral ceremony will take place on January 7 at 1000 GMT at Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption church in Saint-Tropez, the municipality said in a statement. The burial will be held in the strictest privacy but a tribute open to locals and fans will take place at the Pre des Pecheurs area in the old town quarter called La Ponche, the historic centre of the former fishing village. Bardot, who became a symbol of 1950s and 60s France, made her home in the resort where she said she found solace among animals and dedicated her life to their welfare. "She was lovely, lovely, there's no other word. Yes, we will really miss her," Saint-Tropez resident Philippe Volmier told Reuters on Monday. Volmier said he had known her for 30 years and used to see her walking her dogs on the beach. "One time, she fell into the water with her dog. I had to pick her out," he added. "She was a friend who helped people a lot." President Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday Bardot embodied "a life of freedom". "A French existence, a universal radiance. She moved us. We mourn a legend of the century," he added. For much of the latter part of her life, she lived alone behind high walls in the resort, surrounded by a menagerie of cats, dogs and horses. She told French weekly Paris Match in 2024 that she wanted to be buried in her garden. The Var Prefecture told Reuters it had not received any request for a private burial, which would have been needed to bury her in her garden. (Reporting by Louise Breusch Rasmussen, Elissa Darwish, Additional reporting by Marc Leras, writing by Dominique Vidalon, Editing by Andrew Heavens)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

SAINT-TROPEZ, France, Dec 29 (Reuters) – French film icon Brigitte Bardot, who died on Sunday aged 91, will be buried in a cemetery by the sea in the French Riviera resort of Saint-Tropez, local authorities said on Monday. The funeral ceremony will take place on January 7 at 1000 GMT at Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption church in Saint-Tropez, the municipality said in a statement. The burial will be held in the strictest privacy but a tribute open to locals and fans will take place at the Pre des Pecheurs area in the old town quarter called La Ponche, the historic centre of the former fishing village. Bardot, who became a symbol of 1950s and 60s France, made her home in the resort where she said she found solace among animals and dedicated her life to their welfare. "She was lovely, lovely, there's no other word. Yes, we will really miss her," Saint-Tropez resident Philippe Volmier told Reuters on Monday. Volmier said he had known her for 30 years and used to see her walking her dogs on the beach. "One time, she fell into the water with her dog. I had to pick her out," he added. "She was a friend who helped people a lot." President Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday Bardot embodied "a life of freedom". "A French existence, a universal radiance. She moved us. We mourn a legend of the century," he added. For much of the latter part of her life, she lived alone behind high walls in the resort, surrounded by a menagerie of cats, dogs and horses. She told French weekly Paris Match in 2024 that she wanted to be buried in her garden. The Var Prefecture told Reuters it had not received any request for a private burial, which would have been needed to bury her in her garden. (Reporting by Louise Breusch Rasmussen, Elissa Darwish, Additional reporting by Marc Leras, writing by Dominique Vidalon, Editing by Andrew Heavens)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

SAINT-TROPEZ, France, Dec 29 (Reuters) – French film icon Brigitte Bardot, who died on Sunday aged 91, will be buried in a cemetery by the sea in the French Riviera resort of Saint-Tropez, local authorities said on Monday. The funeral ceremony will take place on January 7 at 1000 GMT at Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption church in Saint-Tropez, the municipality said in a statement. The burial will be held in the strictest privacy but a tribute open to locals and fans will take place at the Pre des Pecheurs area in the old town quarter called La Ponche, the historic centre of the former fishing village. Bardot, who became a symbol of 1950s and 60s France, made her home in the resort where she said she found solace among animals and dedicated her life to their welfare. "She was lovely, lovely, there's no other word. Yes, we will really miss her," Saint-Tropez resident Philippe Volmier told Reuters on Monday. Volmier said he had known her for 30 years and used to see her walking her dogs on the beach. "One time, she fell into the water with her dog. I had to pick her out," he added. "She was a friend who helped people a lot." President Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday Bardot embodied "a life of freedom". "A French existence, a universal radiance. She moved us. We mourn a legend of the century," he added. For much of the latter part of her life, she lived alone behind high walls in the resort, surrounded by a menagerie of cats, dogs and horses. She told French weekly Paris Match in 2024 that she wanted to be buried in her garden. The Var Prefecture told Reuters it had not received any request for a private burial, which would have been needed to bury her in her garden. (Reporting by Louise Breusch Rasmussen, Elissa Darwish, Additional reporting by Marc Leras, writing by Dominique Vidalon, Editing by Andrew Heavens)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

Dec 29 (Reuters) – Actor Idris Elba and ice dancers Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean were among the hundreds named in King Charles's New Year honours list published on Monday. The full list includes more than 1,157 people in politics, sport, the arts or community service to be awarded titles from Member, Commander or Officer of the Order of the British Empire to the highest honours of knighthoods and damehoods. Elba, who is known for his roles in the television series "Luther" and "The Wire", was awarded a knighthood for his anti-knife crime campaigning with young people. Torvill and Dean, whose 1984 Olympic Bolero routine earned perfect scores and became a defining moment in British sport, were both honoured – she as a dame and he as a knight. HONORARY DAMEHOOD FOR WOMEN'S SOCCER COACH And following from the England women's soccer team's back-to-back Euro title success this year, coach Sarina Wiegman – a Dutch national – was awarded an honorary damehood. Several of the Lionesses were also recognised in the honours list. "This year's honours list celebrates the very best of Britain – people who put the common good ahead of themselves to strengthen communities and change lives," Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a statement. Cynthia Erivo, an Oscar-nominated and Emmy, Grammy and Tony award-winning actor who is best known for her lead role as Elphaba Thropp in the 2024 musical film "Wicked," was given an Order of the British Empire. Warwick Davis, who has appeared in the "Star Wars", "Harry Potter" and "Willow" franchises, and founded the dwarfism charity Little People UK, was also awarded an OBE. Actor and writer Meera Syal, whose credits include "Goodness Gracious Me", "The Kumars at No. 42" and the novel "Anita and Me", was made a dame. From the world of business, supermarket chain Sainsbury's chief executive Simon Roberts was awarded a CBE, as was former National Grid boss John Pettigrew. The New Year honours, which have been awarded since at least 1890, aim to recognise not just well-known figures but people who have contributed to national life through often unsung work over many years. Those honoured will receive their awards at investiture ceremonies held later in 2026 at royal residences such as Buckingham Palace. (Reporting by Andy Bruce; editing by Barbara Lewis)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

SAINT-TROPEZ, France, Dec 29 (Reuters) – French film icon Brigitte Bardot, who died on Sunday aged 91, will be buried in a cemetery by the sea in the French Riviera resort of Saint-Tropez, local authorities said on Monday. The funeral ceremony will take place on January 7 at 1000 GMT at Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption church in Saint-Tropez, the municipality said in a statement. The burial will be held in the strictest privacy but a tribute open to locals and fans will take place at the Pre des Pecheurs area in the old town quarter called La Ponche, the historic centre of the former fishing village. Bardot, who became a symbol of 1950s and 60s France, made her home in the resort where she said she found solace among animals and dedicated her life to their welfare. "She was lovely, lovely, there's no other word. Yes, we will really miss her," Saint-Tropez resident Philippe Volmier told Reuters on Monday. Volmier said he had known her for 30 years and used to see her walking her dogs on the beach. "One time, she fell into the water with her dog. I had to pick her out," he added. "She was a friend who helped people a lot." President Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday Bardot embodied "a life of freedom". "A French existence, a universal radiance. She moved us. We mourn a legend of the century," he added. For much of the latter part of her life, she lived alone behind high walls in the resort, surrounded by a menagerie of cats, dogs and horses. She told French weekly Paris Match in 2024 that she wanted to be buried in her garden. The Var Prefecture told Reuters it had not received any request for a private burial, which would have been needed to bury her in her garden. (Reporting by Louise Breusch Rasmussen, Elissa Darwish, Additional reporting by Marc Leras, writing by Dominique Vidalon, Editing by Andrew Heavens)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)