Culture

Culture covers the stories that shape how we express ourselves and connect with one another. From film festivals and entertainment to social movements and artistic endeavour, these stories reflect the values, conversations and creativity that define our communities. Whether it's a new film project breaking ground, a performer taking their work to new audiences, or society grappling with important questions about identity and behaviour, culture encompasses the ways we live and the narratives we tell.

This topic matters because culture is often where change begins. The entertainment industry responds to shifting tastes whilst simultaneously influencing them. Artists and creators challenge conventions, spark conversations, and hold up mirrors to society. Social and cultural movements highlight the issues that resonate with people's lives and futures.

Culture also reflects broader trends in how we consume and engage with content and ideas. From streaming platforms to live performance, from traditional institutions to emerging voices online, the stories documented here chronicle the evolving landscape of how we entertain, educate and challenge ourselves.

Dolly Parton estate confirm inaugural “star-studded” two-day DollyFest 2027 for Nashville and London

September 1, 2026

Dolly Parton’s estate has confirmed plans for an inaugural “DollyFest”, a two-day event to be held in both Nashville and London in 2027, honouring the country icon’s life and legacy following her death last month. Organiser Danny Nozell said the festival-style celebration will take the place of a traditional public memorial, allowing time for tributes…
Poco’s F9 Ultra is a midrange phone with a flagship processor and a 185Hz display

September 1, 2026

Xiaomi’s sub-brand Poco has unveiled the F9 Ultra, a China-market smartphone that pairs flagship-level specifications with midrange positioning, including a notably larger 8,050mAh battery, up from 6,500mAh in last year’s F8 Ultra. The phone won’t be sold in the US, but it offers a useful snapshot of how Chinese phonemakers continue to push hardware specs…
Washington veteran goes viral after announcing his own death in self-penned and heartfelt obituary as he jokes ‘this was not the plan’

September 1, 2026

A 51-year-old Army veteran from Washington state has gone viral after writing his own obituary, which was published shortly after his death and praised online as one of the best ever written. Michael De Simone died on 21 August from a cardiac event, following months of recovery from a stroke earlier this year and a…
‘A lot of questions waiting to be answered’ over death of Asos co-founder Quentin Griffiths in fall from 17th-floor Thai apartment, inquest told

September 1, 2026

An inquest hearing in Bournemouth was told that the family of Asos co-founder Quentin Griffiths may never learn why he fell to his death from the 17th floor of a Thailand apartment block. Dorset Coroner Rachael Griffin said she had received only a translated police report and post-mortem report from Thai authorities, and that evidence…
Tributes paid following death of Half Japanese co-founder David Fair: “A pure artist and musician, all from the heart”

September 1, 2026

Tributes have been paid to David Fair, co-founder of the influential art-punk band Half Japanese, who has died at the age of 74. His death was confirmed on 30 August by Thick Syrup Records, with tributes following from his brother and bandmate Jad Fair, producer Don Fleming and numerous musicians and fans, reflecting the pair’s…
Social media photo craze sparks tourist invasion at picture-perfect vacation hot spot

September 1, 2026

Crowds of tourists have been forming long queues at some of Santorini’s most photographed spots, as visitors flock to recreate iconic images popularised on social media. Videos shared online show people lining up in the narrow streets of Oia from early morning to pose in front of the Greek island’s famous blue-domed churches, prompting fresh…
Honky-Tonk, Heartbreak, and Hell-Raising: 3 Country Singers Who Owned the 1980s

September 1, 2026

This American Songwriter piece looks back at three country stars who defined the genre’s 1980s boom, a decade when the music reached a wider audience than ever before. It highlights George Strait, Reba McEntire and Hank Williams Jr as artists who each embodied a distinct strand of the era’s sound, from traditional honky-tonk to raw…
Review: Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty Complete Edition (Switch 2) – A Promising Soulslike But A Compromised Port

September 1, 2026

Nintendo Life’s review of Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty Complete Edition on Switch 2 finds Team Ninja’s Sekiro-inspired Soulslike let down by a poor port, despite solid underlying combat. While rival Soulslikes such as Lies of P and Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition have run well on the console, this version suffers frequent performance issues and unattractive…
Using High-Energy Laser, US Shoots Down Drones Near Mexico Border

September 1, 2026

US Northern Command’s Joint Task Force Southern Border (JTF-SB) used a high-energy laser weapon to shoot down drones near the Texas-Mexico border overnight on 25-26 August, marking a new escalation in the deployment of directed-energy technology against unmanned aircraft. The operation, which took place in the vicinity of the Rio Grande Valley, used technology derived…
United will now let you join standby lists for earlier flights through its mobile app

September 1, 2026

United Airlines has launched a new mobile app feature that lets passengers add themselves to standby lists for multiple earlier flights when they have been rebooked onto a later service due to a delay or cancellation. The update, introduced ahead of the US Labor Day weekend, aims to give travellers more control over recovering from…