Culture

Some familiar words we use in everyday English carry surprising traces of Malay, a language spoken widely across south-east Asia

Being constantly reachable fuels our self-importance. But there is a better way

It is the second most-spoken first language in the world, and opens doors across continents and careers – yet British schools still insist on teaching French

The social contract must be revitalised or populists will replace it with something much worse. That means citizenship should involve allegiance to a shared way of life

Digging into the detail and data to separate the noise from the news

It predicts the universe with eerie precision, yet not even Nobel laureates can agree on how to interpret it

Promises to ourselves have a superficially similar structure to promises to other people – but with a kind of double lock

To survive the club culture of Buenos Aires, you need stamina and a willingness to let go of British ideas about bedtime

Digging into the detail and data to separate the noise from the news

Digging into the detail and data to separate the noise from the news

Flags waved, Trump ranted and raved, an ex-royal was depraved and the PM looked like he couldn’t be saved. It’s been one hell of a year

This Polish-Mexican bistro is a mismatch that probably shouldn’t work. But it absolutely does, and there is nowhere like it in Britain, maybe even the world

Rock Against Racism’s joyous free concerts beat back the far right in 1970s Britain. That defiant blend of politics and music remains an inspiration – but its playbook may be obsolete

Digging into the detail and data to separate the noise from the news

Digging into the detail and data to separate the noise from the news

Populists have some very strange ideas about London. The best way to get over their irrational fears is to pay the capital a visit

Happy-clappy beige influencers are everywhere now, encouraging us to stay away from anything that makes life worth living

Just an hour across the water is a city with a completely different history and culture. But how much longer can it last?

From San Sebastian to Copenhagen, one train ticket allows travel in 33 countries, for all age groups. But don’t dare think that you can just hop on, hop off

Digging into the detail and data to separate the noise from the news

In the capital city’s abandoned temples and underpasses, Taiwan’s youth are reclaiming their space – and culture

The country’s food scene is generally underwhelming – but a city on the Caribbean coast is a vibrant hub of innovation and local pride

In the southern state of Kerala, temple elephants are dying young due to cruelty, neglect and exploitation

How São Paulo’s ‘Big Worm’ went from urban scar to public space – and what it tells us about city futures

Once plagued by violence, Medellín’s Comuna 13 has been transformed into a vibrant community symbolising resilience, culture and peace

In dog-obsessed Chicago, pets dominate social life and identity, leaving non-owners feeling alienated, bemused and increasingly outnumbered

The charming town of Llivia, a Spanish exclave in France, thrives with Catalan investment, in sharp contrast to its forgotten French surroundings

Robert Prevost may have been born American, but his experience, views and values are as far from Trumpian as were his predecessor’s

Many secular philosophers have opposed war and particular wars, but Russell stands in a class apart

Pope Francis came close to anointing his heir. But the conclave will consider a range of cardinals, from progressives to Trump fans

Throughout the 20th century, the currents of global change pulsed through the city. One man was at the centre of it all

Modelling physical violence as a way of controlling other people is bad in itself, but emotional damage for victims can be long-lasting and debilitating, too