Culture news Fact check: Is Kevin Spacey really being honoured at Cannes? Kevin Spacey is about to touch down on the Croisette to receive a lifetime achievement award on Tuesday. But before you cry out that Cannes Film Festival has lost its marbles, bear in mind that this is more of a Cannes-concurrent promotional stunt than anything else. Here's what you need to know. 19/05/2025
Culture news In pictures: Austria welcomes JJ back home after Eurovision win Austrian fans have enthusiastically welcomed JJ back home at Vienna airport after the artist won the 69th Eurovision Song Contest with the popera song ‘Wasted Love’. 19/05/2025
Culture news Slovenian police investigate disappearance of Melania Trump's statue The life-size bronze sculpture was unveiled in 2020 and replaced a wooden statue that had previously been set on fire. The stolen statue was sawed off at the ankles and removed. 16/05/2025
Culture news More stars add names to letter condemning industry silence over Gaza More stars and creatives have signed the letter about the killing of the Palestinian protagonist of a Cannes-premiering documentary: “We are ashamed of such passivity” - they wrote regarding the silence of the industry. 16/05/2025
Culture news Man who stabbed author Salman Rushdie faces sentencing in New York A jury found Hadi Matar, 27, guilty of attempted murder and assault in February. He is expected to be sentenced today, with Chautauqua County District Attorney Jason Schmidt saying he will request the maximum 25 years in prison for the 2022 attack that left Salman Rushdie blind in one eye. 16/05/2025
Culture news 'Walking Tall' and three-time James Bond star dies aged 89 Joe Don Baker leaves behind him a lasting legacy of screen roles on the big and small screen, including the cult film 'Walking Tall' and three James Bond films in the 1980s and 90s - the first of which earned him the honorary distinction of being the first American Bond villain. 15/05/2025
Culture news Cannes' David Lynch tribute: Where to begin with Mylène Farmer? Her tribute to David Lynch was a highlight of this year's opening ceremony at the Cannes Film Festival. Mylène Farmer is royalty on the French pop scene, but if you've never listened to a single of her albums, here's a much-needed starter pack... 15/05/2025
Culture news Magna Carta 'copy' bought for 'peanuts' revealed to be genuine A manuscript once considered an unofficial copy of Magna Carta is now believed to be a genuine version and ''one of the world's most valuable documents'', according to two UK academics. It remained tucked away in Harvard Law School library for years, its true identity and value unknown until now. 15/05/2025
Culture news Bruce Springsteen slams Trump at EU tour kick-off in Manchester Bruce Springsteen kicked off his EU tour last night and did not spare his thoughts regarding Donald Trump: “In my country they’re taking sadistic pleasure in the pain they inflict on loyal American workers. (...) Raise your voices against authoritarianism." 15/05/2025
Cinema Tom Cruise in Cannes - Mission: Impossible movies ranked Your mission, should you choose to accept it... Ahead of the Cannes premiere of the new (and rumoured last) Mission: Impossible film, 'The Final Reckoning', we look back at the series and rank the seven adventures... And fixate on Tom Cruise's hair through the years. 14/05/2025
Culture news More than 350 stars condemn Gaza ‘genocide’ in time for Cannes opening The stars and creatives have signed a letter about the killing of the Palestinian protagonist of a Cannes-premiering documentary: “We are ashamed of such passivity” - they wrote regarding the silence of the industry. 13/05/2025
Culture news Israels ESC-Kandidatin stellt sich auf Störungen beim Auftritt ein Sender und ehemalige ESC-Teilnehmer hatten den Ausschluss Israels vom diesjährigen ESC in Basel gefordert. Israel tritt trotzdessen an, vertreten durch Yuval Raphael. Sie bereitet sich auf Störungen während des Auftrittes vor. 13/05/2025
Culture news Gérard Depardieu found guilty of sexual assault on a 2021 film set The case is widely seen as a key post- #MeToo test of how French society and its film industry address allegations of sexual misconduct. 13/05/2025
Culture news Cannes Film Festival officially says 'non merci' to nudity It's a 'non merci' from Cannes to any flesh on the red carpet (or any other area of the festival). The new policy has sparked attention, as sheer and "nude dresses" are a current red carpet staple... 13/05/2025
Culture news Pink Floyd at Pompeii: What are the greatest live albums of all time? This week saw the first official release on vinyl of Pink Floyd's legendary 1971 set played in Pompeii - showing to what extent the British band were once one of the greatest live acts in the world. With so many great live albums out there, we give you our Top 10 greatest live recordings. 10/05/2025
Culture news ‘Glengarry Glen Ross’ director James Foley dies aged 71 The filmmaker, best known for directing 'Who's That Girl' with Madonna, the cult classic 'Glengarry Glen Ross', two 'Fifty Shades of Grey' sequels and several TV episodes including Twin Peaks and House Of Cards, has died after a "years-long struggle" with brain cancer. 09/05/2025
Cinema Donald Trump on movie tariffs: James Bond has 'nothing to worry about' Donald Trump even attempted an impression of late actor Sean Connery while discussing the impact of US tariffs on the UK film industry following the announcement of a UK-US trade deal. 09/05/2025
Culture news Funniest internet reactions to first US-born pontiff, Pope Leo XIV From deep dish pizza to 'The Bear', with also mentions of Trump's tariffs, the internet wasted no time in welcoming the new pope with a solid dose of tomfoolery. 09/05/2025
Culture news Algeria issues two arrest warrants for Gouncourt winner Kamel Daoud The author is accused of having used the story of a survivor of a massacre during the Algerian civil war without her consent – an accusation he denies. Daoud’s publisher denounced the “violent defamatory campaigns orchestrated by certain media close to a regime whose whose nature is well known.” 08/05/2025
Culture news Auction of historical Buddha gems postponed after India backlash Sotheby’s in Hong Kong postponed an auction of gems with ties to early Buddhism after backlash from India’s government, which said the jewels were the country's religious and cultural heritage. 08/05/2025