Arts & Identity: Malaysia’s National Unity Minister Aaron Ago Dagang says preserving diverse arts and culture is key to national unity, pointing to museums, libraries and archives as bridges to younger generations. Diaspora Festival: Kurdish communities in Europe kicked off a Dortmund cultural festival honoring martyrs, with halay dancing, stalls and chants. Culture Meets Tech: China’s Lanzhou turns the Qing-era Siku Quanshu into a public-friendly exhibit, digitizing a near-800-million-character encyclopedia. Local Culture & Community: Chino’s Portuguese Festa do Divino Espirito Santo brings a 700-year tradition to the streets with a procession, coronation lore and festivities. Fashion as Storytelling: Miss World’s Nikita Porwal wears Karan Torani’s Meenakshi-inspired couture for “Dances of the World,” spotlighting Indian mythology and craft. Food Culture: Spokane’s Pacific Northwest Food & Wine Festival returns Oct. 9–11 with chef-led classes and a chandelier-lit tasting featuring Shota Nakajima. Pop Culture & Loss: Jazz icon Cassandra Wilson dies at 70, celebrated for genre-blending vocals and major Grammy wins. Health & Faith: A BMJ report argues NHS staff need better faith literacy to improve outcomes and reduce discrimination. Sports & Culture: BTS hits a new Spotify milestone in 2026, with billions of streams and 149 songs crossing 100M plays.