World heritage guardians UNESCO has withdrawn a Belgian festival from one of its protection lists over the presence of “racist and anti-Semitic” floats. The annual Aalst carnival was removed from the UN body’s schedule of intangible cultural heritage, which seeks to protect non-physical patrimony such as oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals and festivals. […] Read more
Zozibini Tunszi, Miss South Africa, has been crowned *2019 Miss Universe.* “I grew up in a world where a woman who looks like me with my color skin and my kind of hair is not considered beautiful,” she said at the 68th annual pageant on Sunday. “That stops today. I want children to look at […] Read more
Huddersfield contemporary music festival’s latest programme features “subtle, low-key innovations from many of modern music’s most daring artists” states its artistic director Graham McKenzie. There are a few well-known names dotted through the 10 days of concerts, installations and talks, but even the most clued-up followers of what is happening in the broad church of […] Read more
Tuesday was an up-and-down day on Wall Street, with major benchmarks eventually ending up close to where they started the session. Promises of greater clarity on U.S. trade policy turned out to be overly ambitious, and investors were left without any clear answers about whether to expect a deal with China in the near future. […] Read more
A reality TV star is heading to Leicestershire stately home Belvoir Castle next month to turn on its Christmas lights. Georgia Toffolo – aka ‘Toff’ – will switch on the lights at The Engine Yard retail village as part of a festive event in support of Leicestershire charity Hope Against Cancer. Toff is best known […] Read more
Diwali “Festival of the Lights” will be celebrated in a free family event on the Bankhead Plaza on Sunday, October 20. The event is a joint project of the Livermore Valley Performing Arts Center and the Youth and Education Hindu Cultural Community Center in Livermore. An ancient Hindu festival in Nepal and India, Diwali, the […] Read more
Foods, fashion parades, music, dance and a Dandy’s Got Talent show highlight the second annual Unity in Diversity Festival. Set at the Southern Migrant & Refugee Centre and the neighbouring Dandenong Market, the free family-fun festival brings a wealth of locally-based cultural arts and experiences. The attractions include 25 homemade craft and food artisans as […] Read more
There are only three months left in 2019, but the calendar still has plenty of festivals and fairs to enjoy. From film and dance presentations to book releases and DJ sets, entertainment and cultural enrichment opportunities abound. Here are five big ones coming up in what remains of the year. 2019 Christmas Ornament Fair Now […] Read more
Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo’s latest themed auction explores a niche that collectors are mad about. As part of its Geneva Watch Auction: Ten to be held November 9 in Geneva, it will host a sale of “Double Signed” pieces – watches that bear the name of a retailer in addition to that […] Read more
The Rugby World Cup opened with children singing while a brief history of rugby union was projected behind them onto the slopes of a replica of Mt Fuji erected in the middle of the pitch. Performers take part in the opening ceremony of the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup at the Tokyo Stadium. Photo: AFP […] Read more
