Germany's federal commissioner for culture and media, Wolfram Weimer, was heavily criticized recently when he rejected the expansion of the German National Library in favor of digital archiving. Although the former journalist has since indicated that the expansion might proceed, his initial decision has sparked debate about the role of books in a digital world.
Thieves have made off with several paintings worth millions of euros from the Magnani Rocca Foundation museum in Mamiano di Traversetolo, near the city of Parma in northern Italy, police confirmed on Sunday. The heist took place in under three minutes on the night of March 22-23.
When Lady Gaga entered the scene in the late 2000s, she sent shockwaves through the world of pop music. Provocation often seemed to be her main aim. Looking back, however, it was clearly all part of her strategy. Pop music and videos would never be the same.
Performers Percy Mtwa, left, and Mbongeni Ngema in a scene from "Woza Albert" at the Market Theatre in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1981.
The sun rises over the Washington Monument and blooming cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin on March 27, 2025, in Washington, D.C. Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images The cherry blossoms' peak bloom in Washington, D.C., is approaching, with their presence painting the Tidal Basin in shades of pink and white.
South Korea's K-pop phenomenon, the boy band BTS, celebrated a triumphant return to the stage in the capital Seoul on Saturday evening, welcoming tens of thousands of adoring fans to a free comeback concert after a nearly four-year break from performing.
The illuminated bell tower of the Basilica Minore dei Santi Filippo e Giacomo stands at the heart of Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, as evening settles over the valley. Once a small village of farmers and shepherds, this storied town has evolved into the "Pearl of the Dolomites," a renowned luxury destination.
Amid thunderous applause, Salman Rushdie took to the stage. There was a standing ovation for the author who narrowly survived an assassination attempt in 2022 and has been under heavy police protection ever since.
Nozlee Samadzadeh's haft sin — a traditional table set for Nowruz featuring symbolic objects. Sarah Ventre/NPR hide caption toggle caption Sarah Ventre/NPR Nowruz — the Iranian New Year — is one of the biggest holidays of the year for Iranians, and is usually celebrated with large parties and get-togethers.
Across history, European depictions of the Amazon have typically presented the South American region as a vast, untouched expanse. Over time, a set of tropes took hold: the rainforest as a "virgin" wilderness; Indigenous life cast as belonging to an earlier era; the whole region suspended outside of time.
For years, BTShave been among the most influential pop acts in the world. The South Korean boy band helped shape the global K-pop wave by setting streaming records, topping music charts and building one of the strongest fan bases in music history.
K-pop megastars BTS released their fifth studio album on Friday, their first in nearly four years, ahead of a major comeback concert in Seoul. The 14-track album "ARIRANG" is named after a traditional Korean folk song.