Arts

• Applications are now open for the European Award 2026, a funding initiative designed to support non-profit cultural organizations across Europe. • The award targets innovative audience-engagement projects that aim to strengthen the connections between arts, culture, and local communities. • Eligible applicants include organizations based in EU Member States, as well as Great Britain, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland.

India declares onset as up to 280mm of rain falls in 72 hours in Kerala, while downpours hit south-west ThailandThe monsoon season has officially begun in parts of Asia, marking the start of a period of enhanced rainfall vital to the region’s economy.The south-west monsoon begins each year as a consequence of a growing temperature difference between the Asian land mass and the Indian Ocean. Through spring, the land heats up more rapidly than the surrounding sea, creating a pressure difference that draws moisture-laden ocean air inland. Once this contrast reaches a critical point, the humid air pushed over the continent rises, condenses into cloud and unleashes intense rainfall across the region. Continue reading...

• Taylor Swift has returned to her pop country roots with a new song featured in the upcoming "Toy Story 5." • The R-rated film, characterized by its irreverent style and various celebrity cameos, is scheduled to open in theaters this Friday. • The Tony Awards will be broadcast live from Radio City Music Hall on June 7 via CBS and Paramount+, with Pink serving as the host for the first time.

• Former Channel 4 News presenter Jon Snow, 78, has publicly revealed his diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. • Snow will share his personal experience and the impact of the condition in a new documentary airing on Channel 4 later this month. • By speaking out, the veteran journalist aims to raise awareness and support for those living with dementia.

• Bobby Deol's new film, *Bandar*, experienced a slow start at the box office on its opening day, June 5, 2026. • The movie is currently trailing behind the performance of another release, *Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai*. • These early figures are critical as they determine the film's commercial viability and potential for longevity in a competitive market.

• Apple TV is producing a retelling of 'Cape Fear' designed as a modern psychological nightmare. • A separate project features a horror parody script with skits mocking current events, including the rap feud between Kendrick Lamar and Drake. • The original "Core Four" cast—Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Anna Faris, and Regina Hall—return as adults to face the killer Ghostface.

• The French presidency announced the death of Marjane Satrapi on Thursday, honoring her as a pivotal figure in French culture and a champion of freedom. • Satrapi gained international acclaim for her autobiographical comic and film "Persepolis," which explored the societal struggles of women in Iran. • Beyond her artistic achievements, she was a dedicated advocate for film education and women's rights.

• Scott Pelley has been fired from '60 Minutes,' a move that intensifies ongoing internal turmoil and instability at CBS News. • The summary also highlights the enduring cultural legacy of Fela Kuti's song "Zombie," which serves as a symbol of defiance against oppressive authority in Nigeria. • Novelist and bookstore co-owner Ann Patchett continues to influence the literary scene from Nashville, Tennessee, by supporting emerging writers.

NSW police appeal after comprehensive class action loss in 2025 when force admitted music festival search of Raya Meredith was unlawful and unjustifiedFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe state of New South Wales is arguing that police have the power to forcibly move body parts when conducting a strip-search, as it seeks to appeal a landmark class action ruling.Thursday was the first day of a two-day hearing where NSW is seeking leave to appeal after losing a class action brought by Slater and Gordon lawyers and the Redfern Legal Centre over unlawful strip-searches conducted at music festivals between 2018 and 2022. Continue reading...

• A diverse lineup of artists, including BTS, Cardi B, Snoop Dogg, Muse, and Lainey Wilson, are scheduled to perform at the iHeartRadio Music Festival. • The summary highlights the enduring cultural significance of the song "Zombie" and Fela Kuti's defiance against oppressive authority in Nigeria. • Celebrated novelist Ann Patchett, 62, continues to influence the literary community through her writing and co-ownership of the Parnassus bookstore in Nashville, Tennessee.

• Scottish football clubs, including Rangers, Celtic, Hearts, Hibs, and Aberdeen, are actively pursuing new signings as the transfer window progresses. • A Denmark U21 international has emerged as a target, attracting interest from both Scottish sides and Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon. • Uncertainty surrounds the future of player Silas, with officials confirming that a sale is possible and his current status remains unclear.

• South Korea is emerging as a primary indicator of how the AI boom and rising energy costs could trigger inflation, potentially forcing central banks to resume monetary tightening. • Market sentiment is currently fragmented, with bonds focusing on inflation and energy markets on supply risks, while equities remain driven by AI-led productivity gains. • This tension highlights a disconnect between optimistic stock market projections and the cautious reality of financial conditions and currency volatility.

• The European Producers Club met in France to elect its leadership board for the 2026-2027 term to strengthen the voice of independent production. • Re-elected board members include Carlotta Calori, Carlotta Cà Zorzi, Gudny Hummelvoll, Dariusz Jablonski, Marc Missonier, and Friedrich Radmann, joining existing members such as Ed Guiney and Anita Juka. • The organization is prioritizing strategic industry campaigns, most notably the "Europe needs Cinema, Cinema needs Europe" initiative.

Successor to Nicholas Serota from August picks out AI as one of the major challenges facing the sectorThe media executive Dawn Airey has been appointed chair of Arts Council England (Ace) and has immediately identified AI as a key challenge facing the sector.Airey, whose CV includes top jobs at ITV, Channel 5 and Sky, will replace Nicholas Serota, whose tenure coincided with one of the most challenging times for the arts in recent memory. Continue reading...

Research for Roundhouse in London shows 87% of 18- to 30-year-olds believe they have fewer artistic opportunities Rising costs, the disappearance of third spaces and reduced access to artistic opportunities are causing young people to feel “disconnected, isolated and locked out of creativity”, according to research commissioned by a youth arts charity.The Roundhouse, a multi-arts venue in north London that reopened in 2006 with a focus on running youth programmes, has released the findings to coincide with the publication of its 20-year impact report on Monday. Continue reading...

Sexual offender attended Interlochen camp in Michigan as teenager and donated hundreds of thousands of dollarsA Michigan summer arts camp and boarding school where Jeffrey Epstein has been accused of meeting at least two of his victims will tear down a lodge that once bore his name.The Interlochen Center for the Arts said this week that its board of trustees has approved a plan to demolish the Green Lake Lodge, which had been known as Jeffrey E Epstein Scholarship Lodge until the school cut ties and scrubbed references to the late millionaire sex offender after his first conviction in 2008. Continue reading...

• Europe is experiencing unseasonal, record-shattering heat across multiple regions, including the United Kingdom. • The extreme weather has led to reported deaths during amateur sports events in France, prompting urgent government warnings. • This heatwave is significant due to its timing in May, which is unusually early for such dangerous temperature spikes.

• Europe is experiencing unseasonal and record-shattering heat across several regions, including the United Kingdom. • The extreme weather has led to reported deaths during amateur sports events in France, prompting urgent government warnings. • This heatwave is significant due to its timing in May, which is unusually early for such extreme temperatures.

• Celtic is reportedly pursuing a 22-year-old defender from Poland's Cracovia, despite a previous £3.5 million bid being rejected. • The player, valued at £4.3 million, is also attracting interest from Italian side Fiorentina following links in January. • Aberdeen manager Stephen Robinson has announced a major squad overhaul, resulting in a 12-player exodus from the club.

Monday predicted to be hottest May day on record by large margin, as UK braces for ‘super El Niño’ summerTemperatures are expected to hit 35C in parts of England on Monday, in an “unprecedented” May heatwave.The Met Office is already predicting that records will be broken. A spokesperson said: “Today will be the hottest day in May in the UK in our temperature records, with highs of 35C expected. The current May record is 32.8C. Records are usually only broken by tenths of a degree, making this heatwave unprecedented for the time of year.” Continue reading...

• Rangers have begun a squad overhaul, with captain James Tavernier and Leon King both departing the Ibrox exit door. • Midfielders Emmanuel Fernandez and Nicolas Raskin are currently attracting significant interest from other clubs and could command major transfer fees. • Scottish clubs including Celtic, Hearts, Hibs, and Aberdeen are actively monitoring the market for early signings to strengthen their rosters.

‘Living archive’ will mark loss of Northumberland landmark with storytelling, sound and sculpture using saved woodA new artwork will transform preserved wood from the felled Sycamore Gap tree into a “living archive” after a public vote.The community arts charity Helix Arts and George King Architects were named winners of the vote on Saturday, after being shortlisted for a National Trust commission in March. Continue reading...

‘This is a change byelection,’ says Labour mayor as he launches bid for Makerfield seat and lays out policy viewsUK politics live – latest updatesAndy Burnham has formally launched his campaign for the Makerfield byelection with a barely coded pitch for Downing Street, saying a vote for him to become the MP there was “a vote to change Labour”.While not explicitly saying that he would seek to replace Keir Starmer, the Greater Manchester mayor used a speech to Labour MPs and activists in the constituency, followed by questions from the media , to lay out a series of national policy views, including on economy, immigration and electoral reform. Continue reading...

Twelve dead as southern and central areas also suffer travel disruption, electricity outages and evacuationsHeavy, prolonged rainfall in southern and central China has resulted in weather warnings for flash flooding, landslides and waterlogging. The band of rainfall spanned 1,000km (620 miles) and steadily moved eastwards across the regions on Tuesday. It was a slow-moving band of rain, formed from the convergence of multiple bands originating from the Bay of Bengal, South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean.Coupled with low wind speeds, high daily and hourly rainfall totals have been recorded, with as much as 75mm locally in Hunan, 85mm in Anhui in a 24-hour period and 95mm on the island of Hainan. As a result of flooding, 12 people have died and hundreds of residents have been evacuated by emergency services. There were major travel disruptions, electricity outages, as well as school and business closures. Along the flooded streets, social media posts showed submerged cars and people fishing. Continue reading...

Dr Tracy Beth Høeg, the Food and Drug Administration’s top drug regulator, says she was fired from agency after declining to resignIn a major shake-up at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), top regulators left on Friday – including Tracy Beth Høeg, the acting drug chief, who says she was fired, and Katherine Szarama, the acting vaccines chief who has only been in the position for days. Jim Traficant, the chief of staff, has also been ousted.The FDA now has no permanent commissioner or deputy commissioner and no permanent leaders of two major centers, after the resignation of Marty Makary on Tuesday and other high-profile departures. Continue reading...

Kyle Diamantas, a top official at the agency, will reportedly replace Makary and serve as acting FDA commissionerSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailMarty Makary resigned from his position as commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Tuesday, concluding a 13-month tenure at the regulatory agency that frequently drew the ire of the White House, Congress, industry and the public, according to US media reports.Kyle Diamantas, who previously worked as the top food official at the agency setting the strategic direction and operations for food policy in the US, has been reported as Makary’s acting replacement, per Politico, who first reported the resignation and Makary’s replacement. Reuters and NBC News also reported on Makary’s resignation. Continue reading...

Horses seized and several people questioned after animal rights activist shares video of race along country roadsA video showing an illegal horse race in Sicily, with spectators firing pistols into the air and brandishing Kalashnikov rifles, went viral and prompted a police investigation that led to the seizure of the animals.The clip, reportedly filmed last Friday, shows two jockeys driving horse-drawn carts at breakneck speed along country roads in the town of Palagonia, near Catania, in eastern Sicily. Behind them, dozens of people follow on scooters, firing shots into the air. The footage was posted on social media by an animal rights activist, Enrico Rizzi. Continue reading...

Research from UCL suggests visiting art galleries or museums, singing and painting can help improve health outcomesSinging, painting or visiting a gallery or museum helps people age more slowly, according to the latest study to link taking an active interest in art and culture with improved health.The findings are the first to show that both participating in arts activities and attending events, such as viewing an exhibition, lead to people staying biologically younger. Continue reading...