The 40th anniversary of Live Aid is being marked with a focus on Dubai's significant role in the charity event that raised millions to alleviate famine in Ethiopia in 1985. The UAE government and Al Maktoum family donated £1 million, which was dramatically announced by Live Aid organiser Bob Geldof on TV. This generous contribution helped trigger an avalanche of donations for the Ethiopia famine appeal.
Dutch museums are launching a €4.5m project to develop a practical guide on colonial collections, considering "various modes of return" for museum objects and how the process can help reconcile with the colonial past. Researchers will focus on recovering stolen works by artists such as Salvador Dalí and Tamara de Lempicka, which were taken from a Dutch museum in 2009 during opening hours.
The 2025 Missouri State Fair will feature live entertainment from local artists and national stars like Flo Rida and Jon Pardi. The event, held in Sedalia from August 7 to 17, will include performances on multiple stages, such as the Touchstone Energy Stage and Superior Sleep Stage, as well as interactive shows for kids. Fireworks sponsored by Missouri S&T will add a memorable touch to the experience. Notable performers include Wynonna Judd, Blues Traveler, and Flo Rida, with various concerts scheduled throughout the fair's 11-day run.
Consul Sanjeev Saklani represented the Consulate at a soulful evening of divine chants and pious mantras at Erindale Park in Mississauga, where Team @RadioDhishum organized a Ganga Aarti event. The event was attended by devotees gathered in traditional attire, with chants of "Har Har Gange" echoing across the park. Video footage shared on Instagram showed customs performed during the event, which received mixed reactions from social media users, with some praising the celebration of Indian traditions and others expressing concerns about potential pollution of the Credit River.
The International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas is committing $500,000 to protect museum collections and heritage sites in Gaza and the West Bank. In Ukraine, the agency continues to stabilize museum collections relocated to safe houses in western Ukraine, where conservation conditions need improvement three years after the war began. The Aliph Foundation has provided a $480,000 grant to the Palestinian Museum to document and conserve traditional embroidered dresses known as thobes.
India Adds 28 New Sites to UNESCO World Heritage List
7.12.25
India has added 28 new sites to the UNESCO World Heritage List, including the Red Fort in Delhi, Taj Mahal in Agra, and Hampi ruins in Karnataka, reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding and promoting its diverse cultural heritage.
Indian Tourists Spark Outrage with Ganga Aarti Abroad
7.12.25
The recent viral post 'Ganga Aarti on Canadian riverbank' has left a section of the internet furious, with many calling it "insulting". The image shows a group of Indian tourists performing a Ganga Aarti ceremony on the banks of a Canadian river, sparking outrage among some who feel that it is disrespecting the cultural significance of the ritual in India. The post has been widely shared and discussed on social media platforms, with many users expressing their disappointment and frustration at what they perceive as cultural insensitivity.
IPRS Brings Music to Leh-Ladakh's Pahari Goat Festival
7.12.25
The Indian Performing Rights Society (IPRS) has expanded its outreach to Leh-Ladakh by hosting the Pahari Goat Festival 3.0, a two-day event that brings together emerging and established artists from hip-hop, folk, and regional music genres in the Himalayan region. IPRS curators Kalsang Tsering "Trepz" and Kalden Regzin have been instrumental in creating this platform for cultural exchange and creative expression.
Jacqueline Maley Critiques Tech-Driven Art Installations
7.12.25
Jacqueline Maley argues that works of art should be bold in their expression and not shy away from contemporary issues, but disagrees with categorizing certain installations as art due to their reliance on technology and assembly of objects rather than traditional artistic skills.