News about Culture
It will last three days—from July 17 to 19. The Chisinau City Hall invites residents and visitors to the capital to a three-day music festival.
For the first time in history, the winner of the 2026 World Cup will receive not only the trophy and gold medals, but also special championship rings. FIFA has decided to introduce a tradition into soccer that has long been a part of American professional sports.
Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber set a new record among original props from the “Star Wars” franchise. At a Heritage Auctions event in the U.S., the weapon used by Mark Hamill in the film *Star Wars: Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back* sold for $3.75 million. The sale served as yet another confirmation of the growing interest among investors and collectors in iconic movie memorabilia.
The LEGO Group is expanding its LEGO Art line with the launch of the largest building set in its history inspired by a work of art. In partnership with the Belvedere Museum in Vienna, the company has released a set dedicated to Gustav Klimt’s famous painting “The Kiss” (1907–1908).
The winner of the 2026 World Cup will receive a record $50 million in prize money—8% more than the champion of the previous World Cup. If Spain defeats Argentina in the final on July 19 in New York, the national team players will split 45% of that amount in accordance with an agreement with the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).
The President of the Republic of India, Draupadi Murmu, who is arriving in Moldova on Monday, July 20, at the invitation of President Maia Sandu, will be accompanied by several dozen businesspeople. The Office of the President has announced the official visit of the high-level Indian delegation. This is the first-ever visit by an Indian head of state to our country since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Moldova and the Republic of India on March 20, 1992.
Regular attendance at theaters, museums, concerts, and other cultural events is statistically associated with a slower rate of biological aging. This is the conclusion reached by researchers in Japan who analyzed data from a long-term health study of older adults in the United Kingdom. The results were published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.
Elon Musk, the world’s first trillionaire, has once again weighed in on the debate over digital platforms’ cultural policies. The catalyst was the description of the classic film *Gone with the Wind* in the Netflix catalog, where the movie is characterized as a Civil War-era epic “known for its racism.”
Today, the Latvian Seimas (Parliament) Human Rights Committee, while reviewing amendments to the Public Media Law, endorsed the most restrictive version of the changes, which means that the Russian language will be completely eliminated from Latvian public media.
Celebrations marking the Argentine national team’s advancement to the World Cup final could result in disciplinary action against the country’s soccer federation. After defeating England, the players unfurled a banner on the field with a political message supporting Buenos Aires’ territorial claims to the Falkland (Malvinas) Islands, which may violate FIFA rules.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury has announced the start of production of a commemorative one-dollar coin featuring President Donald Trump. The coin is being issued to mark the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence and is scheduled for release in the fall of 2026.
A three-meter-tall golden statue has appeared on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., mocking U.S. President Donald Trump and his role in the conflict with Iran. The installation, titled “Trophy of an Iran War Veteran,” is the latest action by the anonymous art collective Secret Handshake, which has previously staged high-profile political performances in the U.S. capital.
The Argentine national team became the second finalist in the 2026 FIFA World Cup after securing a hard-fought 2-1 victory over England in a dramatic semifinal match in Atlanta. The decisive goal was scored in stoppage time.
Russian singer Philip Kirkorov sold his mansion in the U.S. to his daughter.
The skeleton of a Tyrannosaurus rex nicknamed “Gus” was sold at a Sotheby’s auction in New York for $50.1 million, setting a new world record for the highest price ever paid for a fossil at auction.
The State Agency for Intellectual Property (AGEPI) rejects the unfounded and disparaging accusations leveled against the agency and its employees.
Some destinations are overrun with tourists, while others remain virtually unknown.
On July 11, the Belarusian community in Moldova held its traditional “Kupale-2026” festival on the banks of the Dniester River near the Bender Fortress.
The European Commission has recommended suspending a 2 million euro grant awarded to the Venice Biennale following the organizers’ decision to reinstate the Russian national pavilion in the program. This was reported by European media outlets, citing a statement by European Commission Executive Vice President Henna Virkkunen.
The Chisinau authorities have promised to conduct a tender that is as transparent as possible to select a contractor for the project to renovate the capital’s city hall building.
