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The ObserverWorld news This article is more than 8 years oldIrina Ionesco: the grande dame, her ‘Lolita’ pictures, and a true Paris scandalThis article is more than 8 years oldA four-decade feud between French-Romanian photographer Irina Ionesco, 84, and her daughter Eva returns to the courtroomA French rentrée – the return to work after the summer break, and the start of the literary season – would be incomplete without a colourful cultural scandal.

Music This article is more than 11 years oldJanet Jackson to make documentary about transgender communityThis article is more than 11 years oldSinger to conduct interviews for Truth, a film hoping to 'change the gender landscape of the world forever'Janet Jackson is reaching out to the global transgender community with her first foray into film production. The documentary, entitled Truth, will explore the stories of transgender people around the world. Jackson intends to conduct the interviews herself as well as serving as the production's executive producer, with the intension of demonstrating that "

A man waves an Argentinian flag at a protest against the country’s new far-right populist president, Javier Milei, in Buenos Aires on 27 December. Photograph: Mariana Nedelcu/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty ImagesA man waves an Argentinian flag at a protest against the country’s new far-right populist president, Javier Milei, in Buenos Aires on 27 December. Photograph: Mariana Nedelcu/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty ImagesArgentinaMilei says Argentina will not be joining Brics bloc in policy reversalFar-right president says not ‘opportune’ for Argentina – which had been set to become a member on 1 January – to be part of alliance

Global developmentIn the poverty-stricken kingdom, an older generation rely on growing marijuana to feed children orphaned by Aids epidemic In Nhlangano, in the south of Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), the illegal farming of the mountainous kingdom’s famous “Swazi gold” is a risk many grandmothers are ready to take. In what is known locally as the “gardens of Eden”, a generation of grandparents are growing cannabis, many of them sole carers for some of the many children orphaned by the HIV/Aids epidemic that gripped southern Africa.

‘The patterns of branches, the smell of the eucalyptus, the hubbub of other people, barking dogs, twittering birds, blended and disintegrated at the same time.’ Golden Gate park, San Francisco, with a little help from DeepDream. Photograph: WolfmanSF/CC BY-SA 3.0‘The patterns of branches, the smell of the eucalyptus, the hubbub of other people, barking dogs, twittering birds, blended and disintegrated at the same time.’ Golden Gate park, San Francisco, with a little help from DeepDream.

Australian bird of the year (2021)Drones can boost conservation efforts and reduce carbon emissions via low-energy deliveries. But that doesn’t mean birds welcome them Australian bird of the year poll 2021 Drone delivery company Wing has temporarily suspended deliveries to the Canberra suburb of Harrison after a nesting raven swooped a drone delivering coffee. It has ignited an interesting dichotomy: if such deliveries are the carbon-friendly future, can birds and drones coexist, or should action be taken to mitigate any ill-effects of drones on wildlife?

Pride and poverty in AmericaAlabamaA beacon for the civil rights movement 50 years ago, the Alabama city’s largely African American population today struggles with joblessness, poverty and drugs Ten figures clambered over piles of rubble from the old cotton warehouse, picking up bricks. It was a cold day for Selma, Alabama, close to freezing, and as the sun disappeared they gathered to warm their hands over makeshift fires. For 10 hours they removed bricks from piles mixed with wood and metal, chipping each recovered brick free of mortar, and then stacked them.

Australia newsFour Australians who go to work with a smile on their face and a song in their heart explain how they achieved what seems impossible to so many others For some, it is hard to believe that the drudgery of going to work every day can instead bring joy. But others are lucky enough to have found the sweet spot where their job is also their passion. Here, four job-lovers share what gets them out of bed in the morning to go to work.

Cleo Sylvestre photographed at the South Bank, London, in September 2020. Photograph: Tristan Bejawn/The GuardianShe was the first black woman to play a lead at the National Theatre and one of the first black actors to have a recurring role in a British soap. She talks about being praised by Laurence Olivier, directed by Ken Loach – and singing with the Rolling Stones by Lanre BakareIn 1967, Cleo Sylvestre was a young actor relaxing in her dressing room at the Wyndham’s theatre in London when there was a knock on the door.