English

Rebecca Ann Hughes

Destinations

What to discover in 6 of the most beautiful villages in Italy

Visitors can use the official list of Italy's most beautiful villages to create an itinerary away from the crowds - a type of slow travel which also supports struggling rural communities.

Green News

El Niño drought causing increase in forced marriages in Africa

A report by ActionAid has found that families have been forced to marry off daughters in exchange for food.

Experiences

What is the Ferragosto bank holiday and how do Italians celebrate it?

15 August is traditionally celebrated with pasta bake on the beach.

Food and Drink

What is a bacaro? Inside Venice’s beloved traditional bars

Bacari are places where people normally go before lunch or dinner for an aperitif of spritz and cicchetti.

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Design

Glow up: Southern Italy sparkles with spectacular light displays

The art of luminarie began as far back as the 17th century with decorations erected for village festivals and celebrations.

Culture news

Three extraordinary archaeological discoveries in Europe this week

Each finding has shed light on different aspects of ancient civilisations and their culture. Here’s why they are significant.

Art

Mount Etna erupts? Make some ash-tounding art

Etna ash on your terrace? Time to get creative...

Lifestyle

Flags, glitter, Olympic rings: The best nail art from the Paris Games

Athletes from badminton stars to discus throwers have come to the Olympics with bold nail art - and experts suggest it's not just a fashion statement.

Culture news

Should souvenirs of contentious historical figures be banned?

In Georgia, you can find an astonishing array of Stalin-emblazoned merchandise. And now, Colombia is moving to ban souvenirs of Pablo Escobar. This feels like the right move...

Culture news

Study finds that Hollywood is ‘not progressive at all’

Just 32 per cent of speaking characters in the top 100 movies at the box office in 2023 were women or girls, according to the University of Southern California's Annenberg Inclusion Initiative annual report.

Lifestyle

For next Olympics? These are the UK’s weirdest sporting events

We're currently being treated to all the sporting goodness with the Paris Olympics. But across the pond, the UK has a spectacular range of baffling sports events, from throwing Wellington boots to chasing cheese. Maybe some deserving a future inclusion for the Olympic Games?

Culture news

What awards and festivals have prizes for children's films?

Films that have a certificate rating of U, PG or 12A will be eligible for the new award.

Art

Fridamania: Why has Kahlo’s face - and monobrow - become so iconic?

Stylised and simplified, Kahlo’s likeness can now be found on t-shirts, tote bags, eye masks, phone cases, oven mitts and plant pots.

Eco-Innovation

The unique challenges of fitting solar panels to historic buildings

With the need for green energy increasing, many historic buildings around Europe have been fitted with solar panels using innovative and creative techniques.

Culture news

These are the 24 new UNESCO World Heritage Sites for 2024

There are now 1,223 World Heritage Sites around the globe.

Culture news

Native American tribes are still waiting for items from US museums

Hundreds of thousands of items that should have been returned under the federal Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990 still remain in museum custody.

Travel News

Is avoiding Russian airspace making flights longer and more expensive?

European airlines have not been able to compete on a “level playing field” with Chinese counterparts, who are permitted to use Russian airspace.

Culture news

Bird mess: London Museum’s new pigeon logo proves unpopular

The museum says it asked 500 Londoners and tourists to share their thoughts on the logo in focus groups, workshops and surveys.

Culture news

How the Italian government is driving out foreign opera directors

Italy’s far-right-led government is seeking to restore landmark cultural institutions to Italians.

Culture news

Critically acclaimed Irish writer Edna O’Brien dies aged 93

O'Brien's debut novel “The Country Girls” made her Ireland’s most notorious exile since James Joyce.

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