Zürcher Nachrichten

Featured

End of a love affair: news media quit X over 'disinformation'

News outlets have begun quitting X, formerly Twitter, once a favourite of global media but now accused of enabling the spread of disinformation under its owner, president-elect Donald Trump ally Elon Musk.

Jeff Beck guitar collection to go under the hammer in January

A collection of guitars and other musical equipment owned by influential rock guitarist Jeff Beck will go on sale in London in January, Christie's auctioneers announced on Friday.

Last news

'Great sadness' for artists after French venue ransacked in Burkina coup

The day after Burkina Faso's latest coup, protesters attacked the French Institute, wrecking not just a symbol of the country's former colonial power but also a valued showcase for artists and free expression.

Russian conductor Gergiev expelled from Swedish academy over Ukraine

Russian conductor Valery Gergiev has been expelled from his position as a foreign member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music for his reluctance to condemn Russian invasion of Ukraine, the academy said Thursday.

Asia's top film festival roots for regional talent

From a Singaporean widow on a K-drama voyage of self-discovery to teenagers seeking revenge on a bully, the movies vying for the key prize at the Busan International Film Festival showcase a diverse array of Asian experiences.

Picasso's first lover more than a victim in Paris expo

Fifty years on from Pablo Picasso's death -- and five years after the #MeToo movement started highlighting celebrities' abuse of women -- a new exhibition in Paris focuses on one of the early partners of the controversial artist.

Chaos agent Kanye West crosses line with bigoted remarks

Kanye West has long been one of the entertainment industry's most polarizing figures, but his recent actions including anti-Semitic comments and white supremacist messaging have alienated fans and business partners alike.

Auctioneers unveil Microsoft co-founder's $1 bn art collection

Auctioneers unveiled the most expensive art collection ever to go under the hammer Wednesday, which belonged to Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen and is valued at $1 billion.

Google allows Donald Trump's Truth Social in Play Store

Google on Wednesday said it has allowed Donald Trump's Truth Social app in its Play Store for Android devices -- after receiving assurances it would meet the platform's standards for moderating harmful content.

Copyright or copycat?: Supreme Court hears Andy Warhol art case

The nine justices of the US Supreme Court took on the role of art critics on Wednesday as they grappled with whether a photographer should be compensated for a picture she took of Prince used in a work by Andy Warhol.

Native Americans fear loss of Indigenous languages in US

As Native Americans this week celebrated Indigenous Peoples Day -- the holiday increasingly recognized in the United States in lieu of "Columbus Day" -- members of the continent's hundreds of tribes shared a common concern: the ongoing extinction of their ancestral languages.

Louvre Abu Dhabi marks five years with major Impressionism show

A major exhibition of impressionist art opened Wednesday at the Louvre Abu Dhabi, featuring works from masters such as Cezanne, Degas, Manet, Monet, Pissarro and Renoir.

'Spirited Away': Ghibli theme park prepares for visitors

Beyond the gates, a whimsical world awaits, complete with a fluffy Cat Bus, the toothy grin of Totoro and a life-sized No-Face seated on a train: welcome to Ghibli Park.

Ballet stars who fled Russia's Ukraine war reunite in US

Joy Womack built herself a fairytale life in Russia's notoriously tough world of classical dance after becoming the first American to graduate from the Bolshoi Ballet Academy.

Meta unveils new virtual reality headset Quest Pro

A year after it rebranded itself in the name of building a metaverse, Meta on Tuesday unveiled a new version of its virtual reality headset tailored for working professionals.

'Murder, She Wrote' star Angela Lansbury dies aged 96

Actress Angela Lansbury, who became a household name through her role as a writer-detective in "Murder, She Wrote," died on Tuesday, her family announced. She was 96.

Got back: Missing Beatles tablecloth returned after 55 years

A tablecloth that all four members of The Beatles doodled on before a 1966 show has been returned to its California owners -- more than five decades after it was stolen.

Block 'busted': India's Bollywood faces horror show at box office

India's Bollywood film industry, long part of the cultural fabric of the movie-mad country of 1.4 billion people, is facing its biggest-ever crisis as streaming services and non-Hindi language rivals steal its sparkle.

Why English audiences have the toughest time with Shakespeare

All the world's a stage but the irony is the rest of the globe often has an easier time understanding William Shakespeare than English speakers.

'Our home': Lesotho's last cave dwellers

Inside a dimly-lit mud dwelling nestled within a rocky mountain in the southern African kingdom of Lesotho, Mamotonosi Ntefane, 67, dusts off an animal skin.

Weinstein sex assault trial opens in Los Angeles

Jury selection began Monday in the Los Angeles trial of disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein, with five alleged victims expected to take the stand during the two-month case.

'Stranger Things' music coordinator on reigniting love for Kate Bush

The woman who picked Kate Bush for "Stranger Things", creating an unlikely summer smash, says Bush's song allowed the world a much-needed sigh of relief after the stress of the pandemic.

'Human billiards' installation rolls into Danish museum

What might appear to be a bouncy game of giant-sized billiards is actually the recreation of a playful 1970s art installation, on display at a museum on the outskirts of Copenhagen.

'Smile' beats 'Lyle' to top N.American box office

Paramount executives kept the "Smile" on their face Sunday, as the deceptively named horror film topped North America's box office for a second weekend, scaring up an estimated $17.6 million, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations said.

Beatles' home city Liverpool to host 2023 Eurovision song contest

The Beatles' home city of Liverpool will hold the 2023 Eurovision song contest next May, the BBC announced on Friday, after Britain stepped in to host the event due to the war in Ukraine.

English city of Liverpool to host 2023 Eurovision song contest

The English city of Liverpool, will hold the 2023 Eurovision song contest, the BBC announced on Friday, after Britain stepped in to host the event due to the war in Ukraine.

'Nobody dares speak out': Exiled Chinese writer decries censorship

Murong Xuecun was one of the brightest stars of China's literary scene, his novels offering searing critiques of contemporary social issues that few other writers dared to imitate.

Manhattan arts complex opens new hall by exploring district it once displaced

Years before Manhattan's Upper West Side became home to arias and pirouettes, it housed San Juan Hill, a bustling neighborhood and thriving arts nexus where clubs and dance halls were hatching new musical forms.

Judge halts Twitter-Musk case, sets Oct. 28 deadline to close deal

A US judge on Thursday suspended litigation in the saga over Elon Musk's proposed $44-billion takeover of Twitter, giving the parties until October 28 to finalize the on-again, off-again megadeal.

Kevin Spacey faces court over 1980s sex misconduct claim

Kevin Spacey was to appear in a New York court Thursday to face a civil lawsuit brought by US actor Anthony Rapp, who has accused the disgraced Hollywood star of sexual misconduct towards him when he was 14.

Qatar hopes World Cup flying headdress will be 2022 vuvuzela

Qatar wants the 2022 World Cup mascot of a flying white headdress to symbolise football's showcase tournament, just as the noisy vuvuzela horn did when South Africa hosted it in 2010.

Lost Cubist painting by Leger found on back of another canvas

Art experts in the Netherlands said Thursday they had discovered an important painting by the French Cubist Fernand Leger that had been hidden for more than a century on the back of another canvas.

Hong Kong's Tony Leung says acting gets more rewarding with age

Legendary Hong Kong film star Tony Leung said that after 40 years in the business, he's having more fun than ever playing diverse roles -- though he's still hoping to be cast as a serial killer.

The censor cannot hold: the pressure of controlling China's internet

As a teenager in rural China, Zeng Jiajun used his internet know-how to watch a banned documentary on the bloody military crackdown in Tiananmen Square.

Roald Dahl's 'Matilda' opens London Film Festival

Oscar winner Emma Thompson on Wednesday hailed the "darkness" of acclaimed children's author Roald Dahl, as a musical screen adaptation of his classic "Matilda" kicked off the London Film Festival.

Alec Baldwin reaches settlement with family over 'Rust' death

Actor Alec Baldwin has reached a civil settlement with the family of the woman he shot dead on a film set last year, he said Wednesday, as it was announced production on the movie would restart in January.

Depeche Mode fear 'painful' ghosts on new tour

Depeche Mode founder and principal songwriter Martin Gore said Wednesday the group expects to be haunted by memories on its upcoming world tour, after the sudden death of bandmate Andrew Fletcher.

Asia's biggest film festival back in top form in 2022

Movie stars, directors and fans descended on South Korea's port town of Busan Wednesday as Asia's largest film festival returned at full power post-pandemic, with an Iranian film opening the event.

Kevin Spacey due in New York court for sexual abuse of teen in 1986

Kevin Spacey will appear in a New York court from Thursday to face a civil lawsuit brought by US actor Anthony Rapp, who has accused the disgraced Hollywood star of sexually abusing him when he was 14.

Taste of Qatari hospitality: traditional Arabic coffee

With its strong aroma of cardamom and its yellowy, tea-like consistency, Arabic coffee is a ubiquitous symbol of hospitality across Gulf countries, not least in World Cup host Qatar.

'Good Bye, Lenin!' Finland ditches last statue of Soviet leader

Finland on Tuesday tore down its last public statue of Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin, as dozens gathered in the southeastern city of Kotka to watch its removal.

Zürcher Nachrichten - Culture (English)