Culture

Poetry and Song Keep Oman’s Ancient Language Alive
Poetry and Song Keep Oman’s Ancient Language Alive

Against the backdrop of southern Oman’s lush mountains, men in traditional attire chant ancient poems in an ancient language, fighting to keep alive a spoken tradition used by just two percent of the population. Sitting under a tent, poet Khalid Ahmed al-Kathiri recites the verses, while men clad in robes and headdresses echo back his words in ...

Soap Nails: Fresh Manicure Sensation
SpotlightSoap Nails: Fresh Manicure Sensation

A wave of purity and shine is sweeping hand beauty. After the era of intricate nail art, here comes the return of refined simplicity: “soap nails” are making their mark, shaking up manicure norms. Neither too elaborate nor too plain, they strike the perfect balance between confident naturalness and meticulous care. The effect? Nails that look ...

Tariff: A Price on Everything?
Word of the weekTariff: A Price on Everything?

Since his return to the White House in January 2025, Donald Trump has revived the rhetoric of trade wars, invoking the word “tariff” at every turn. Whether announcing new import taxes on European goods or boasting of protecting American jobs, he treats tariffs not just as economic levers but as symbols of strength. Yet beneath this hardline ...

Adidas Accused of Cultural Appropriation Over Oaxaca-Inspired Sandals
Adidas Accused of Cultural Appropriation Over Oaxaca-Inspired Sandals

US fashion designer Willy Chavarria said Saturday he regrets that sandals he created together with Adidas “appropriated” a traditional design from the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca. Local authorities had complained that the Oaxaca Slip-On sandals were a “reinterpreted” model of huarache sandals, particularly one found uniquely in the ...

The Wilhelm Scream: Hollywood’s Most Recycled Scream Since 1951
SpotlightThe Wilhelm Scream: Hollywood’s Most Recycled Scream Since 1951

It barely lasts two seconds. It cuts through the chaos of a fall, an explosion or a surprise attack. Chances are, you’ve probably heard it hundreds of times without realizing it. It’s known as the “Wilhelm scream.” To this day, it’s the most recycled sound effect in film history. From Star Wars and Indiana Jones to Kill Bill and Toy ...

Fire Swiftly Contained at Cordoba’s Historic Mosque-Cathedral
Fire Swiftly Contained at Cordoba’s Historic Mosque-Cathedral

A fire broke out in the historic mosque-turned-cathedral in Cordoba on Friday, but the monument was saved as firefighters quickly contained and then extinguished it, the Spanish city's mayor said. Widely shared videos had shown flames and smoke billowing from inside the major tourist attraction, visited by two million people per year. "The ...

Saint-Gilles of Tripoli
SpotlightSaint-Gilles of Tripoli

Christian rule over Tripoli came to an end with the death of Byzantine emperor Nicephorus II Phocas in 969. Some 130 years later, the Crusaders reached the city gates and found a fortified settlement where the Arabs had firmly consolidated their presence. Despite reinforcements from the Christian mountain regions, it took them a full decade to ...

Tradition, Temperature, and the Parisian Home: The A/C Dilemma
Tradition, Temperature, and the Parisian Home: The A/C Dilemma

As summer temperatures rise, many Parisians are warming to the idea of installing air conditioning in their apartments, ending a longstanding resistance to what is considered a basic comfort in many capitals elsewhere. Although commonplace in the French capital's modern office buildings and large stores, air conditioning has never been the norm ...

And Just Like That… Fades Away: When Nostalgia Alone Isn’t Enough
SpotlightAnd Just Like That… Fades Away: When Nostalgia Alone Isn’t Enough

And Just Like That… The story ends here. On August 14, 2025, HBO will air the final episode of a show that always walked a fine line, the line of memory. The memory of a cult quartet from the late 1990s. The memory of a fantasized New York, filled with cosmos, heels, and raw confessions. But above all, the memory of a series that gave voice and ...

Disney and Actress Gina Carano End High-Profile Legal Dispute
Disney and Actress Gina Carano End High-Profile Legal Dispute

A Star Wars actor who sued Disney for firing her over inflammatory social media posts about the Holocaust, the pandemic and trans rights has reached a settlement with the Hollywood studio, the entertainment giant announced Thursday. Gina Carano, a prominent Donald Trump supporter who had a major role in the hit Disney+ series The Mandalorian ...