First Culture

Tibet's tourism boom poses risks to the country's fragile environment, historic sites

The growing numbers of tourists appear unconcerned by political controversies long circling Tibet. China’s communist forces entered the region in 1951, and the Dalai Lama, Tibet’s traditional spiritual and political leader, fled to India during an abortive uprising against Chinese rule in 1959.

From MF Husain, Ram Kumar to FN Souza, AstaGuru's latest online auction features artistic milestones of India's most-celebrated masters

The auction — to be held on 25-26 June — will also include rare works by the greats from the Bengal School of Art including Jamini Roy, Gaganendranath Tagore, along with works by distinguished artists such as Ganesh Pyne, Amrita Sher- Gil, KG Subramanyan, Akbar Padamsee, and Lalu Prasad Shaw, many of them appearing in an auction for the first time.

At Italy's oldest music conservatory, students continue playing behind glass panels to curb COVID-19

The pandemic, which struck Lombardy first in Italy, and Italy first in the West, cast the 1,700 students asunder. For the first months of total lockdown, they could only follow classes online.

AP photographers bag two major Pulitzers this year; captured pandemic pain and US civil unrest in pictures

The Associated Press' chief photographer in Spain, Emilio Morenatti, won the feature photography prize. Work by 10 AP photographers won the breaking news prize.

London artistes find new hope, excitement as live music returns to the city post-pandemic

The return of live music in the city that produced bands from the Rolling Stones to the Spice Girls has reignited the creativity of some of London's many working artists after 14 months of silence.

In Germany’s Taunus Mountains, it's shearing season for sheep as summer approaches

The ritual is carried out for the sheep’s benefit, however, sparing them from carrying a heavy coat during the warm summer months.

A museum in Hong Kong opens exhibition commemorating 4 June Tiananmen Square massacre

The museum commemorating the 4 June, 1989, crackdown in Beijing reopened on Sunday, in advance of this year's anniversary. In the face of a second year of refusal of permission from authorities on COVID-19 concerns, and the imprisonment of others for last year's event, this time, organisers said they would not try again, but keep their museum open till 10 pm on 4 June.

As life begins to come back to normal in Gaza post ceasefire, fishermen return to sea

Gazans take pride in their seafood, and the return of fishing buoyed hopes that the ceasefire will hold.

Art Basel Hong Kong returns in a hybrid format after a year's hiatus owing to COVID-19 restrictions

Art Basel, one of the world's most prestigious modern and contemporary art exhibitions, is returning to Hong Kong in its ninth edition. The prestige art fair is hosting 104 galleries from 23 countries and territories.

From Pather Panchali to Charulata, view a collection of posters from Satyajit Ray's films

Designer-turned-entrepreneur Srila Chatterjee's Baro Market has curated a special range of film posters to pay tribute to the legendary director Satyajit Ray on his 100th birth anniversary.