Culture

After 10 years of trying and billions spent to make it possible, Manchester City are closer to winning the Champions League than they have ever been. A come-from-behind 2-1 win away to Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday has put Pep Guardiola’s side in sight of the final. The threat posed by PSG’s star duo Neymar and Kylian Mbappe remains ahead of …

Egypt’s tradition of tahtib (stick fighting), popular at festivities and dating back at least 5,000 years, has become a modern martial art that enthusiasts hope will eventually make it to the Olympics. French-Egyptian Adel Paul Boulad, who for some 15 years has been the driving force behind modern tahtib, calls the push a “unifying project” and a “cultural revolution.” The modern practice “is …

Burning Man, the annual countercultural festival in the southwestern US, has been canceled for a second year running due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, although the festival says it has plans to return in 2022. The event usually draws tens of thousands of participants to a temporary metropolis of towering art installations and dance parties in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert. …

Blueberry, a species Vaccinium australe of the family Ericaceae, and its processed goods are popular among the people for its various properties good for human health. Especially popular is bog bilberry in Mt Paektu, which is situated in the highest area in Korea (2 750m) and is designated as a world biosphere reserve. It occurs in the natural forests free …

A building unearthed in ruins discovered 18 kilometers north of Xi’an, Northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, may have been the place Qin Shi Huang, the founder of the Qin Dynasty (221 BC-206 BC) and China’s first emperor, held court. The Qin Xianyang City site contains a large number of palace office ruins. Among them, a structure labeled as “ruin number 6” …

The Michelin Guide reveals Monday its annual pick of France’s top restaurants despite criticism over its decision to hold the awards while establishments remain closed in the COVID-19 pandemic. Three-star chefs can rest easy, however, after Michelin said none will be demoted as the health crisis rages. The restaurant industry bible’s boss Gwendal Poullennec defended inspections that led to 57 …

Chinese netizens are calling for strict punishment and more measures to be taken to protect ancient buildings after a video showing people sell parts of ancient houses built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) went viral on Chinese social media on Sunday. According to the video released by Kankan News, due to expensive restoration costs, many locals …

A new drama series made by Sohu TV was released on Thursday and the cast gathered at an online press conference to accompany audiences watching it. Starring young actors Zhou Lula, Xue Huiwei and Sun Jiaqi, the new series, called I Love You, tells the stories of three young couples after graduating from college. The show covers contemporary hot topics …

Fans of a young Chinese idol started a “war” with a top Chinese university of economics and law after a student of the university posted some negative comments about the idol on social media, which finally ended with apologies from fans and the idol. Yu Shuxin, member of the girl band The 9, has been the target of controversy caused …