Life Style

Russia is holding the final of its Intervision song contest on Saturday evening, a competition from Soviet times that has been relaunched by President Vladimir Putin as a conservative answer to the West's glitzy, liberal and queer-friendly Eurovision Song Contest .  Russian artists have been banned from participating in Eurovision since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.The Kremlin-friendly singer Shaman will be representing RussiaImage: Mikhail Tereshchenko/TASS/ZUMA/picture alliance What is Intervision about? Moscow says that the competition aims to foster "national identity" and "traditional values." There will be no "perversions and mockery of human nature," Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in a remark seemingly aimed at Eurovision's pro-LGBTQ+ stance. T...

It wasn't penned as a romantic farewell, but "Bella Ciao" — meaning "goodbye beautiful" in Italian — is a song that has come to symbolize a parting with oppression. When the phrase was discovered etched on an unspent bullet casing linked to the man accused of killing conservative US activist Charlie Kirk, it wasn't just some cryptic clue. It was a refrain bearing history, drawn from a century-old Italian protest song, which has long been a global tune of resistance. While its connection to Kirk's death remains moot, this find has cast fresh light on a melody that has evolved from partisan movements to pop culture playlists.The song 'Bella Ciao' has been used as an anthem by groups of all stripesImage: Brancolini/Fotogramma/ROPI/picture alliance Divergent origin stories Widely labelled...

Robert Redford's death this week wasn't just the loss of a screen legend. It closed the book on a Hollywood that once saw itself as America's progressive conscience. Redford, on screen as a Watergate journalist Bob Woodward in "All the President's Men," off screen as an activist for environmental issues and Indigenous rights, embodied a liberal vision of the US entertainment industry, one that championed independent voices and socially-conscious storytelling. The week he died, however, brought further signs of a rightward shift in the US entertainment business, with the balance of cultural power increasingly tilting away from Redford's Hollywood and toward something closer to Donald Trump's America. This was clear in the US media's reaction to the murder of far-right activist Charlie Kir...

At first it felt barbaric to be writing a book after October 7, 2023, the Israeli author Ayelet Gundar-Goshen said, "especially while we have the hostages kept there, away from their families in Israel, and destruction going on in Gaza — and you will allow yourself the privilege of escaping into a different world, into a world made of your own words? It felt wrong." Then came the turning point that dispelled her hesitations: when Israeli government officials called for a boycott of books and films that portray Palestinians in a human way. "For me, this was a moment where I thought, 'Wait a minute. The right wing, the fascists, are scared of words. They truly believe that words can change something.' I thought, 'Well, if fascists fear words so much, then maybe it can also be used as a weap...

In June, another Hong Kong food stalwart fell victim to the city’s economic downturn as Taipan Bread & Cakes, a bakery chain with more than 40 years of history and which pioneered the snow skin mooncake, closed its doors.In 1989, the company created its popular chilled mooncake, which – unlike classic mooncakes baked with a golden, lard-rich crust – feature a glutinous rice flour skin with a mochi-like texture. They are not baked, but instead steamed and served chilled.Traditional mooncakes also tend to use dense fillings like sweet lotus seed paste, red bean paste and mixed nuts. Snow skin versions usually feature lighter ones such as custard, fruit purées, chocolate or even ice cream. They are also known for their vibrant colours and artistic designs, appealing to modern tastes.Snow ...

In 2022, clips of A Tapestry of a Legendary Land went viral online, alerting the world to the immense popularity of Chinese folk dance drama, or wuju in Mandarin.Since then, the number of new productions has exploded, with young audiences particularly enamoured with the “Eastern aesthetics” these dialogue-free performances featuring traditional Chinese costumes have come to epitomise.The first blockbuster wuju was 1979’s Rain of Flowers Along the Silk Road.Created by the Gansu Song and Dance Ensemble, it brought to life the deities painted in the murals of the Mogao Caves – a site in Dunhuang, in China’s Gansu province, containing some of the finest examples of ancient Buddhist art – and has been performed from North Korea to the United States.Dancers perform A Tapestry of a Legendary Land...

A booming market for miniature clothing has become the latest growth driver in China’s “doll economy” – fuelled by Gen Z’s passion for the toys and the emotional comfort they provide.“Loving ball-jointed dolls is as natural as breathing,” said 21-year-old Clementine Cai from Zhejiang. Two years after falling in love with the toys, she had spent over 3,000 yuan (US$417) on outfits alone – a sizeable amount given her roughly 2,000 yuan in monthly expenses.Unlike the wildly popular Labubu vinyl plush toys, ball-jointed dolls are typically made of resin or ceramic and feature spherical joints that allow for lifelike poses. Owners can customise them with clothing, jewellery, bags and other accessories.A single outfit usually costs between 300 and 500 yuan, Cai said – far exceeding what she spen...

Fewer food cravings, better sleep and clearer skin – these can all be a result of stable blood sugar levels.A growing number of social media users are promoting the benefits of blood sugar monitoring to avoid experiencing blood sugar spikes and their adverse effects.For people with diabetes, a chronic disease characterised by high blood sugar (glucose) levels, keeping their blood sugar levels near normal helps manage the condition and prevent potentially serious complications.This is also useful for non-diabetics, some experts say.Glucose, a simple sugar, is the body’s primary fuel source. It comes mainly from the carbohydrates that our digestive system breaks down in the food and drinks we consume. The glucose is then absorbed into the bloodstream and carried to the body’s cells.“It’s our...

Just like the widely acclaimed 3D animated film Ne Zha 2 before it, Nobody – a breakout box office hit in China this summer – draws its inspiration from a Chinese literary classic, namely Journey to the West.Mining China’s vast cultural heritage is proving to be a winning formula for the local entertainment industry.Still, that alone cannot fully explain the popularity of the 2D animated film, so what else has helped contribute to its success?A new spin on a Chinese classic