Culture

They are considered the favourites to win Eurovision 2025, but just what is KAJ's Bara Bada Batsu about?

Eurovision 2025: Meet KAJ and learn their song, Bara Bada Batsu

Season 5 of Race Across the World will take viewers to China

3 apps for learning Mandarin, for Race Across the World's China start

Emma and Matt Willis on board a Disney Cruise Line

Emma and Matt Willis test ‘perfect’ holiday formula

Rydal Mount (Credit: Ashdown Jones, The Lakes and Lune Valley)

William Wordsworth's Victorian cottage on Lake Windermere up for sale

Blondie's Rapture is considered one of the first times rap and rock music collided, and has been an influence ever since - and sampled by some of the biggest names in music.

Celebrate Blondie's Rapture hitting the top spot 44 years ago today

Half of holidaymakers have tried to recreate foreign cuisines at home

Stuck for travel inspo? Take this quiz to find your next destination

Hotwalls Studios Christmas Creative Market

Hotwalls studios praised for thriving as cultural hub in Portsmouth

One language app says its Irish language course has seen a huge boost in popularity over the past year

3 ways to start learning Irish - as app reports 200% popularity rise

HMS Victory, Lord Nelson's flagship during the Battle of Trafalgar, is now in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard home

National Lottery Open Week is back and it's bigger than ever

Charli XCX has won the first of what hopefully will be a number of BRIT awards ahead of this weekend’s event.

Charli XCX wins BRIT Songwriter of the Year award

Britney Spears' sophomore album, Oops!... I Did It Again, was released on May 16 2000 - making the album 25 years old this year.

The pop phenomenon that redefined Britney Spears' legacy

Could Central Cee walk away with Best Male Act and Song of the Year at the MOBO Awards this year?

MOBO Awards: final list of performers and nominees for 2025’s ceremony

Jay-Z has been announced as one of this year’s inductees into the GRAMMY Hall of Fame

GRAMMYs announce the inductees into the 2025 Hall of Fame

(Photos: Getty Images)

Celebrate Lunar New Year on a budget with DIY décor and festive feasts

Two-thirds of Brits would fail the citizenship test

Ad Feature Two-thirds of Brits stumped by UK citizenship test, research shows

Stephen Morris, Gillian Gilbert, Bernard Sumner, and Peter Hook, of the band New Order, at the Roxy, London, 1986.

Blue Monday 2025: How New Order's hit was a gamble for Factory Records

Forget the gloom of Blue Monday 2025 by revisiting New Order’s pulsating club classic 🎶

Benjamin Jackson

I visited the alpine city of Innsbruck, taking in all the history, culture, and skiing that the city had to offer.

I visited a beautiful alpine city that is fantastic for a ski break

Orchestrated by Rezső Seress in 1933 and covered by Billie Holiday, this song is considered the most depressing ever committed to record ahead of Blue Monday 2025.

Explainer Blue Monday 2025: the tragic tune that became a musical curse

From being dropped by her label to her meteoric 2024 - who is Chappell Roan, the Midwest Princess who could be on your Spotify Wrapped playlist this year?

Explainer Who is Chappell Roan? The rise of the Midwest Princess after BBC win

The Natural History Museum’s Dinosaurs Live! is among the shows with January sale discounts

Full list of every theatre in the UK with huge January sale savings

The Xunantunich ruins in Belize

Belize is a nature-lover's paradise, with reefs, rainforests and ruins

21 per cent of Brits never speak in the native tongue when abroad

Three in 10 Brits admit they can't pronounce foreign words correctly

Restaurants and retailers are capitalising on the 'K-Wave' through rapid delivery as orders of East Asian food on Just Eat has grown 23 per cent year on year

Ad Feature Korean culture charms Brits as ‘K-Wave’ injects £3.5bn into economy 

[L-R] Peso Pluma, Bad Bunny and Feid have all returned to the Spotify Wrapped top 10 in 2024, as the three are amongst the most streamed artist by users on the platform this year.

Who are Bad Bunny, Peso Pluma and Feid as Spotify Wrapped is released

Dwayne Johnson returns as Maui in the sequel to 'Moana,' the smash hit 2016 Disney animated feature that gave the world its first Pacific Island Disney Princess.

Moana 2: what have reviews been for the new Disney movie so far?

What are some of the Christmas singles of old that became one-hit wonders?

What are the biggest Christmas one-hit wonders of all time?

Spotify have unlocked hours of audiobooks for Premium subscribers.

Spotify teases Wrapped release date - when will it arrive

The most exciting time of the year is almost here 🎧

Matthew Mohan-Hickson

Spotify Wrapped

Spotify’s favourite day to release Wrapped - based on past years

One of the singers of McFly, Danny Jones probably needs no introduction. He was one of the coaches on The Voice UK earlier this year - moving up from The Voice Kids. But he is best known for his role with the popular pop-rock band - his band mate Dougie Poynter won I’m a Celebrity in 2011.

What time does I’m a Celeb finish tonight - how long is the episode?

What does listening to indie music say about you? Here's what sociologists think - and explain the differences between hipsters and scenesters.

Explainer What listening to indie says about you as Britpop's revival continues

Research of 2,000 women said they would feel embarrassed and judged by their manager if they admitted the truth

One in four women afraid to tell boss real reason they are sick

Spotify Wrapped has been released for 2021. Picture: Spotify

How many songs are on a Spotify Wrapped playlist?

Watch: I went from budget to full luxury travel experience in Dubai

I stayed at the Mercure Dubai Deira hotel - a hotel that is for travellers looking for local and authentic experiences to really experience the true side of the destination. (Photo: NationalWorld/Mark Hall/Isabella Boneham)

I stayed at a hotel in Dubai's Old Town - the side you should visit

Still from Coca-Cola's AI advert. Photo: Coca-Cola/ YouTube

Coca-Cola faces backlash over ‘creepy’ AI Christmas advert

New podcast, 'Wise Words', caters exclusively for retirees - presented by David Hamilton

Over-65 spends less than an hour a day talking to other people

Khiva, near the unfinished minaret.

I went to the Central Asian country on the verge of tourism boom

Leon Marseglia (left), Co-founder and CEO of Youth Group UK, and Jack Parsons (right), Co-founder and Group CEO of Youth Group.

Ad Feature Youth Careers Launches to Support Social Mobility Youth

The joys of Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, with Liam Kennedy and Tui. (pic by Dominic Scurr).

I visited Egypt's desert jewel and left with smile wider than Sinai

It is traditionally worn by men to secure the ghutrah - or keffiyeh - in place on the wearer's head.

Ad Feature New London collection makes traditional Arabic male accessory for all

A study of 500 SME owners and decision makers highlighted that not having enough time to focus on all their expenditure is costing them nearly £350 each month on average

Small business owners say lack of time is costing them money

A total of 24 suspects have been identified by police investigating the deaths of hundreds of patients at scandal-hit Gosport War Memorial Hospital as case files have started to be sent to the Crown Prosecution Service, according to Kent Police. Photo credit should read: Chris Ison/PA Wire

Hospital Deaths: Case files given to CPS as 24 suspects identified

Whiteley Primary School has received an outstanding Ofsted report. Pictured is: (l-r) Mia Lucas, Alfie Bord, Finley Rutledge, Kate Bolton, deputy headteacher, Lesley Pennington, headteacher, Tommy Holloway, Elsie Youngs and Esme Monk. Picture: Sarah Standing (031024-7054)

Primary school praised by Ofsted for 'unwavering support'

Cottage Grove Primary School and Nursery has received a 'requires improvement' Ofsted rating following its inspection on June 25 and 26, 2024.

Primary school and nursery receives 'requires improvement' Ofsted

Ark Ayrton Primary Academy in Portsmouth, has received a good Ofsted.Pictured is: (l-r) Arin, Isla, Lazarus, Alexia-Faith, Molly-Mai, Ronnie and Hiab. Picture: Sarah Standing (011024-6848)

Primary school 'brimming with high aspirations' maintains good Ofsted

The beautiful views of Istanbul

I spent a packed weekend in Istanbul and it was a treat for the senses

St Jude's Church of England Primary School has received a good Ofsted rating following its recent inspection.

Portsmouth-based primary school praised in good Ofsted report

The Menendez Brothers are the focus of the newest "Monster" Netflix series by Ryan Murphy - but what was it like inside their multi-million dollar home, where they murdered their parents in 1989?

Inside The Menendez Mansion as new crime series arrives on Netflix

Attributes which define a ‘healthy person’ include good posture, being able to move without difficulty and aids, and low body fat, according to Brits

These images show what Brits think ‘healthy’ looks like

A proposal has been made to twin Portsmouth with Malta's capital Valletta. Pictured is: Charlotte Gerada, Labour group leader, elected for Central Southsea ward. Picture: Sarah Standing (020524-8415)

City could be twinned with Malta's capital Valletta

Portsmouth Football Club’s photographic heritage is to be celebrated at a special exhibition at the University of Portsmouth in August in what will be the closing event of the club’s 125th anniversary season.

Photographic exhibition to celebrate Pompey FC's 125 anniversary

Cosplayers attend the MCM Comic Con at ExCeL exhibition centre in London on October 27, 2023. (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS / AFP)

What comic book conventions are taking place in the UK in 2024?

A 1955 Porsche 356 Pre A Coupe is seen during the Salon Prive classic car event at Blenheim Palace on August 30, 2023 in Woodstock, England. The four-day annual event is the UK's longstanding celebration of all things motor, with rare collector cars and luxury brands, and culminating in a public day showcasing supercars and classics on September 2. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)

What car shows are left to attend in 2024, including Salon Privé?

Manor Infant and Nursery School has maintained its Ofsted rating of good in its recent inspection which took place on June 18 and 19, 2024. Pictured: Helen Castle, headteacher, with pupils

Ofsted finds children 'learn happily' at an infant and nursery school

Crofton Hammond Junior School has received a 'requires improvement' Ofsted rating following its recent inspection which took place on June 18 and 19, 2024.

Junior school 'committed' to improving following Ofsted report

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