With the euphoria of New Year’s Eve behind us, it’s time to face reality. For many, it will be harder economically than in the last twelve months. At least that is what the predictions of the most credible economic institutions lead us to believe. “Compared to 2022, this year will…

“By overthrowing me, you have only defeated the trunk of the tree of freedom; it will grow back because its roots are deep, numerous and vivacious.” — Toussaint Louverture, after his imprisonment in 1802 by the French expeditionary force of Napoleon Bonaparte. Black music is undoubtedly part of the Tree…

I was struck with disbelief. So, for real, this young Emirati knows the name of Haiti… And even dreams of visiting us…? In any case, she did not hide her smile under the modesty of her black abaya when my passport revealed my nationality. I am indeed from Haiti, that…

To contemplate the Mona Lisa, this visitor brought neither camera nor smartphone. Her fervor, she wears it rather in her naked eyes. This Monday morning of autumn, all her glance is dedicated to “Saint Mona Lisa”. The euphoria of the other visitors around her does not bother her. Camped in…

How Cristiano Ronaldo is Pimping Saudi Soccer’s Image While Consolidating his Own — Fresh Demand Before Cristiano Ronaldo (CR7) arrived in Riyadh in early January 2023, few people in the Western world knew about the Saudi Professional League. It was a national league with huge popularity in Arab countries but with little exposure in the rest of the world. Certainly, some world-class players have spent…

Here too, where you are, part of the Russia-Ukraine war is taking place. — “No need to watch hours of documentaries and historical films; no need to visit archives and museums about the world wars of the last century. For those of us who want to feel how a world war starts and goes off the rails, well, here it is: the present century…

I was well and truly warned. “This city has no soul”, my seatmate told me on the plane during my first trip to Dubai. But I still hesitated to believe this Spanish expat. After all, if “this soulless city” remained her place of residence, there must be a good reason…

An old library in Switzerland convinced me that you can’t — The value of a library lies not only in the number and quality of its books but in its social role, the contribution it makes to the community. A monastery library in Switzerland knows something about this. For a long time. Nine tango steps are enough to cross the room…

How literature gives substance to the superficial Dubai, one festival at a time — Just like the pearl fishermen of Old Dubai in the past, and just like the immigrant workers today, fishing for a better life in modern Dubai, it was necessary to take a 15-minute ride on Dubai Creek via a traditional ferry named “Abra” to attend the Emirates Airline Festival of…