Culture news clusters

Spanish students have recorded their worst PISA scores since 2000, falling below OECD averages in math, reading, and science, amid concerns over mobile usage and unsupervised AI use in schools.

Mexico commemorated the 179th anniversary of the Battle of Chapultepec, honoring the Niños Héroes cadets through national and regional ceremonies led by President Claudia Sheinbaum.

An investigation into football explores the systemic failure to protect young athletes from sexual violence, citing reports that one in seven children in sports is a victim of assault.

Director Alex Gibney premiered the documentary “Musk” at the Toronto International Film Festival, exploring Elon Musk’s influence and the rise of tech oligarchs.

MapBiomas reports a 20% increase in secondary vegetation loss in the Cerrado between 2017 and 2025, signaling a decline in the biome's ability to regenerate and store carbon.

Pope Leo XIV, the first American Pope, celebrates his 71st birthday, marking a pontificate defined by his missionary roots in Peru and a commitment to peace and the marginalized.

Norway held a state funeral for King Harald V in Oslo on September 9. The ceremony included international royals and featured the interment of the King at Akershus Fortress.

Eleven Greek public schools will offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme for the first time, aiming to prepare students for international universities through a rigorous two-year curriculum

Pokémon celebrates its 30th anniversary with major merchandise launches in Japan, including a 1,025-character T-shirt collection at ZOZOTOWN and 62 lifestyle items at 3COINS.

Mariska Hargitay will host the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards on September 14, 2026, in Los Angeles, with ‘The Pitt’ and ‘Widow’s Bay’ emerging as top contenders for major honors.

Try Angle and Yuya Ruru Saisai are inviting families of children with medical needs or severe disabilities to participate in a project offering free overnight stays in Kanazawa to promote inclusive travel.

Singer Herbert Grönemeyer, recipient of the 2026 German National Prize, calls for active civil society engagement and respectful dialogue to strengthen democracy.

Makers of Nitesh Tiwari’s ‘Ramayana: Part 1’ have unveiled a new motion poster of Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi, announcing the upcoming release of the first single composed by A. R. Rahman.

Rescue Team 116 captain Nham Quang Van is shifting the unit's focus toward drowning prevention and school-based water safety education to reduce emergency incidents in Vietnam.

Natural interventions like beaver dams and managed agricultural landscapes, such as grazing, are being identified as effective methods to reduce wildfire intensity and spread.

The 33rd ‘Crayon Shin-chan’ animated film has set a new franchise record, surpassing 2.7 billion yen in box office revenue and 2.18 million viewers within 45 days of its release.

In Bavaria, parents are legally required to cooperate with schools, supporting their children's education and ensuring they have the necessary materials and attendance for academic success.

Historical photographs from the Vietnam News Agency helped build grassroots diplomatic ties and solidarity movements between Japan and Vietnam starting in the 1950s.

The manga submission event ‘DAYS NEO REAL 2026’ will be held on November 28 in Akihabara, featuring over 80 editors from 17 publishers in a collaborative event with ‘The CREATORS 7’.

The fifth season of the Israeli series ‘Fauda’ has sparked global reaction after dedicating episodes to the October 7 massacre, ranking seventh globally on Netflix within its first day.

New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani marched in the Mexican Independence Day Parade in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, marking the first time a mayor has participated in the annual event.

Austrian Sign Language is now available as a second living foreign language at AHS upper secondary schools, though teacher shortages and limited access for deaf students remain challenges.

The HBO Max drama ‘The Pitt’ leads the 2026 Emmy nominations with 25 nods. Gary Oldman and Zendaya are also among the prominent nominees for the upcoming ceremony hosted by Mariska Hargitay.

Rock in Rio has introduced exclusive luxury hospitality suites for individuals and companies while preparing for its final day of performances, featuring artists like Halsey and Twenty One Pilots.

The social and economic value of cultural capital is declining, as evidenced by PISA reports showing lower academic performance among high-income students and a shift toward inheritance-based status.

Devotees are celebrating the Haritalika Teej festival with prayers to Lord Shiva, while authorities deploy 2,500 police and surveillance technology to manage crowds at the Pashupatinath Temple.

Crown Prince Akishino and Prince Hisahito visited Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, to mark the 15th anniversary of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake.

BTS’s ‘Arirang’ tour concerts in Argentina and Brazil will be broadcast to 3,800 cinemas worldwide, following a massive North American tour leg.

A high school in Guangdong, China, is under investigation after a leaked policy revealed students are allegedly permitted only one emergency restroom visit per semester.

Rheinland-Pfalz celebrates ten years of its STEM strategy, which aims to increase interest in technical subjects and provide more female role models for girls in science and mathematics.

South Korean universities Sookmyung Women's, Sungshin Women's, and Kyungsung University have released their 2027 academic year rolling admission competition rates.

OMO7 Asahikawa is hosting the ‘Asahikawa Machinaka Takibi Bar,’ an event using upcycled, non-construction timber to create forest-themed lounge spaces and workshops in Hokkaido.

The Seishin Chuo Family Festa in Kobe attracted 2,000 people, using food trucks and crafts to integrate disaster preparedness education into a family-friendly community event.

Renowned enka singer Nobue Matsubara has died at age 65. Known for hits like ‘Onna no Defune,’ she was a seven-time Kohaku Uta Gassen performer.

Legendary Greek folk singer Stelios Kazantzidis died on September 14, 2001, at age 70 after a battle with cancer, leaving a profound legacy as the voice of post-war Greece.

Pope Leo XIV marked the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, praying for victims and calling for global peace amid ongoing international conflicts.

The Red House, a private art and music space in Sydney, faces closure threats after Canterbury-Bankstown Council classified the residential venue as an ‘entertainment facility’.

The documentary ‘Always Lalisa’ premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, revealing the personal struggles and strict industry pressures faced by BLACKPINK’s Lisa.

New tourism initiatives are launching near the Kumano Kodo in Japan, including pilot transportation services in Tanabe City and a guided walking tour through World Heritage landscapes.

Authorities in Shandong are investigating reports of potentially missing Yuan Dynasty shipwreck artifacts, including blue and white porcelain fragments, discovered during excavations in Heze.

Christopher Nolan’s A Odisseia has become Universal Pictures’ highest-grossing film ever, reaching US$ 1.68 billion at the global box office and surpassing Jurassic World.

TBS has unveiled poster visuals for the new suspense drama ‘LOST10’, starring Ryusei Yokohama. The series features a theme song by NY-based artist Maya and music by Gabriel Roberto.

The CaixaProinfancia program supports 67,000 vulnerable children with school supplies, educational reinforcement, and essential health and hygiene aid.

Thousands of faithful participated in the 48th Diocesan Pilgrimage to the Basilica of Luján to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Diocese of Quilmes.

The Istanbul Environmental Council and Consumer Confederation are protesting the 6.5-year restoration delay of Rumeli Hisarı, calling for the site to be reopened to tourism.

Punk rock guitarist Cheetah Chrome, co-founder of the Dead Boys, has died at age 71. He was a key figure in the American punk movement and the CBGB scene.

Indonesia's Ministry of Creative Economy launched a program in Aceh Tamiang using flood mud and dust as art pigments to help flood-affected children recover from trauma through painting.

Restoration work at Buckingham Palace has uncovered historical artifacts, including a 1977 schedule for Queen Elizabeth II and various everyday items from the past century hidden beneath floorboards.

The Island Biennale Organizing Committee launched the ‘Memories of the Island’ contest for Chungcheongnam-do residents to create public art for the 2027 inaugural Biennale.