The Brazilian town of Santa Bárbara d’Oeste is known for one thing above all — its annual Confederate festival. Descendants of thousands of people who emigrated to Brazil from the US South after they lost the Civil War celebrate their American heritage. Typically, the Confederate flag stands out. But recently, the City Council voted to ban the flag because of its racist symbolism.

Every August, the neighborhood celebrates the Festa Major de Gràcia, or Gràcia Street Festival. The weeklong event running through Sunday, features a contest for the best-decorated street, with residents working hand in hand for months to produce the most impressive ornaments, often employing recycled materials.

The New York-based duo makes music about a wide variety of themes but often come back to songs about Peruvian shamanism.

Since the war in Ukraine started, there’s been a wave of interest in Ukrainian history, culture and writing. That means publishers are scrambling and Ukrainian literary translators are working in overdrive.

Increasingly, young professionals in India are volunteering to support rural education initiatives, helping children get back on track to recover learning lost during the pandemic.

Ahead of Kenya's presidential election on Tuesday, Afropop stars Sauti Sol are using their music to encourage young Kenyans to vote. “A lot of the youth in Kenya feel like their voice doesn't really count,” said band member Bien-Aimè Alusa.

Temple-mosque disputes have been flooding Indian courts in recent years. The current Gyanvapi mosque dispute stokes fear that violence could once again erupt between Hindus and Muslims over claims to the contested site.

Sightings of the native magnolia flower had not been recorded since 1925. Expedition leader Eladio Fernandez said the search was like "an act of faith."

Using a keyboard, a saxophone, a bass guitar and percussion, Eblis Alvarez is recreating the classical salsa sound developed by Latino immigrants in New York in the 1970s and giving it somewhat of a psychedelic twist.

The song “PAF.no,” one of the biggest hits in Norway this year, features a chorus in Arabic that has everyone singing along — and also discussing what it means to be Norwegian.