Culture

From Bardot to Birkin: The Timeless Allure of the Basket Bag
SpotlightFrom Bardot to Birkin: The Timeless Allure of the Basket Bag

For several seasons, wicker and raffia baskets have shed their humble beachside and market origins, transformed by top designers into must-have summer staples. This trend is rooted in dual heritage: the laid-back practicality paired with the sun-drenched glamour of the Riviera. Once a simple everyday item, the basket bag has become a style icon ...

At the Bourse de Commerce in Paris, an Immersive Work of Sound and Silence
At the Bourse de Commerce in Paris, an Immersive Work of Sound and Silence

Clinamen is a dreamlike, immersive and multisensory experience by Céleste Boursier-Mougenot, presented in the Rotunda of the Bourse de Commerce – Pinault Collection. Originally built in the 18th century as a grain exchange, the building – now a contemporary art museum – becomes a living vessel for this ever-evolving installation. This ...

Ozzy Osbourne Bows Out with Black Sabbath
Ozzy Osbourne Bows Out with Black Sabbath

Birmingham braced Saturday for wildman rocker Ozzy Osbourne's final-ever gig as Black Sabbath's frontman, with thousands flocking to his UK hometown for a celebration of the heavy metal genre he helped create. Millions are also expected to follow online after fans snapped up tickets for the show — starring the original line-up — in just 16 ...

From Benin to Hollywood: Singer Angélique Kidjo Makes Walk of Fame History
From Benin to Hollywood: Singer Angélique Kidjo Makes Walk of Fame History

Franco-Beninese artist Angélique Kidjo expressed her "joy" on Friday at becoming the first African female singer to receive a star on the prestigious Hollywood Walk of Fame. The five-time Grammy Award winner, who recently concluded an international tour celebrating her 40-year career, was named Wednesday among the 35 new honorees selected to ...

The “Quiet Proposal”: No Ring. No Kneeling. Just Heart
The “Quiet Proposal”: No Ring. No Kneeling. Just Heart

There was a time when proposing meant staging the perfect scene — sunset views, fine dining, hidden cameras, getting down on one knee, a sparkling ring, and background music to cue the tears. But that era is fading fast, making place for a new generation that’s rewriting the rules of rom-com romance. Enter the quiet proposal: discreet, ...

Yasmina Sabbah Fuses the Unexpected in Symphonic Electro-Dance
InterviewsYasmina Sabbah Fuses the Unexpected in Symphonic Electro-Dance

Picture the scene: a full symphony orchestra, a fifty-voice choir, a live DJ, a vocalist with oriental inflections – and a set list that spans Lady Gaga, Daft Punk, Calvin Harris, Amr Diab and Najwa Karam. This isn’t a dreamscape – it’s Symphonic Electro-Dance, the latest installment of the Symphonic Fusion series launched by Saint-Joseph ...

Oasis Reunion Tour Ignites Cardiff With Britpop Thunder
Oasis Reunion Tour Ignites Cardiff With Britpop Thunder

Tens of thousands of ecstatic Oasis fans descended Friday on Cardiff as the legendary Britpop band kicked off a highly anticipated reunion tour nearly 16 years after last performing together. The concert at the Principality Stadium in the Welsh capital was the first of a 41-date run of gigs spanning the world, including the United States, Japan, ...

Michael Madsen, the Last Tough Guy of American Cinema, Dies at 67
PortraitMichael Madsen, the Last Tough Guy of American Cinema, Dies at 67

Michael Madsen, renowned for his portrayals of Mr. Blonde in Reservoir Dogs and Budd in Kill Bill, died on Thursday, July 3, 2025, at 67, following cardiac arrest at his Malibu home, according to his representatives and the Los Angeles County Sheriff. No foul play is suspected. “Michael Madsen was one of Hollywood’s most iconic actors, and he ...

How Robots and Raw Earth Are Redefining Homebuilding
SpotlightHow Robots and Raw Earth Are Redefining Homebuilding

They look like cocoons, settled on the ground as if they had naturally grown there. No straight lines, no concrete, just earth, carefully layered by two robotic arms moving with the grace of a choreographed dance. In 200 hours—barely eight days—an entire house takes shape. Printed on site using only natural materials. Its name? TECLA. Its ...

Sean \
Sean "Diddy" Combs Acquitted of Sex Trafficking, Convicted on Lesser Charge

Music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs was found not guilty of racketeering and sex trafficking Wednesday but convicted of a less serious prostitution charge after a high-profile marathon trial in New York. Combs was denied bail after the jury found him guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, each of which carries a maximum ...

‘Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way:’ Myth or Reality?
Spotlight‘Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way:’ Myth or Reality?

“Where there’s a will, there’s a way” – most of us have grown up hearing it, whether at home, in school, or later in the workplace. It’s become so familiar that we rarely question it, repeating it like a modern mantra. But beneath its motivational appeal lies one of the more damaging myths of our time. It implies that sheer willpower ...

BTS to Drop New Album and World Tour in 2026
BTS to Drop New Album and World Tour in 2026

BTS agency HYBE confirmed Wednesday that the K-pop megastars would release a new album and go on tour in 2026, with the group's livestream announcement of their return attracting more than seven million views. The seven-member group had been on a self-described hiatus since 2022 while they undertook their mandatory military service — required ...