Culture

Icing: When Love Goes into Freeze Mode

The Anglicism icing, literally “putting on ice,” is not just a lexical novelty born of online platforms. It can also be understood as a technique of connection. It is neither a breakup nor a clear absence, but a controlled freezing. The icer keeps the other in reserve, present yet unavailable. The act consists of responding sporadically, ...

Broadway Musicians Threaten Strike Amid Contract Talks

Musicians performing in New York’s Broadway theaters threatened Tuesday to go on strike if they fail to reach a new labor agreement with producers, amid ongoing renegotiations of their employment terms. Dozens of shows and musicals could be affected, including world-famous productions such as The Lion King, Mamma Mia!, and Aladdin, according to ...

Sundance to Honor Robert Redford with Tributes and Final Utah Farewell

The upcoming Sundance Film Festival will feature multiple tributes to its late co-founder Robert Redford, including a screening of his first independent movie, organizers said Tuesday. Hollywood legend Redford, who starred in hits like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid before becoming an Oscar-winning director, died last month at the age of ...

Jane Birkin's Hermes “Birkin Voyageur” Handbag Up for Auction in Abu Dhabi

A Hermes handbag once belonging to Jane Birkin will be auctioned in Abu Dhabi on December 5, following the record-breaking sale of the original for over $10 million, Sotheby's said Tuesday. Nicknamed the "Birkin Voyageur", the estimated value of the late actor's black leather bag hovers between $230,000 and $430,000. Gifted to Birkin by Hermes ...

Healing Without Forgetting: Rony Mecattaf Connects with His Readers

La blessure qui guérit, published a few months ago by Éditions Erick Bonnier, is already drawing attention. In this book, Rony Mecattaf, psychotherapist and a leading figure in Lebanon’s intellectual scene, recounts how the violence of the Beirut port explosion, which left him permanently scarred, became a path toward ...

L’Oréal Eyes Armani Stake, Honoring a Designer’s Final Wish

French cosmetics group L'Oreal said Tuesday it is interested in taking a stake in Italian company Armani, as its late founder suggested, even as it moves ahead with a multi-billion-dollar purchase of Kering's beauty division. "The acquisition of Kering's beauty activities changes nothing in terms of our intention to be part of Armani," L'Oreal ...

American Pianist Eric Lu Triumphs at Prestigious Chopin Competition

American pianist Eric Lu won the top prize at the prestigious International Chopin Piano Competition, the contest's Polish organisers said Tuesday. The competition — held every five years in Frederic Chopin's homeland — is seen as a gateway to classical music glory, with winners going on to play top global venues and sign recording ...

Chess World Grieves Loss of US Grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky

The chess world has been plunged into mourning following the sudden death of prominent US grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky, aged 29. Governing body the International Chess Federation (FIDE) remembered Naroditsky, who was also a chess commentator and streamer, as someone "whose influence extended far beyond the chessboard." Fellow grandmaster and ...

'Black Phone 2' Rings Up No. 1 at U.S. Box Office

Black Phone 2, a horror sequel starring Ethan Hawke, captured the top spot at the North American box office with $26.5 million as spooky season shifts into high gear in the run-up to Halloween, industry estimates showed Sunday. The film from Universal and low-budget horror specialists Blumhouse has excellent critical and audience scores, said ...

Nicole Sarkis Exhibits at the Florence Biennale 2025

Lebanese painter and sculptor Nicole Sarkis is taking part in the Florence Biennale 2025, an international celebration of contemporary art and design. This year’s edition is centered around the theme “The Sublime Essence of Light and Darkness: Concepts of Dualism and Unity in Contemporary Art and Design,” a reflection on how contrasting ...

From Excitement to Frustration: Louvre Visitors Caught Off Guard by Closure

Visitors pressed against the Louvre's iron gates on Monday, peering through bars locked after thieves pulled off a daylight jewel heist inside the world-famous museum the day before. Would-be museum-goers queued outside the famed tourist attraction for the scheduled 0900 (0700 GMT) opening, a day after robbers stole precious jewelry and fled on ...