Moscow museum chronicles NATO 'cruelty' amid Ukraine campaign

13 Sept 19:47 Key points summarised by AI

A Moscow exhibition, 'NATO. A chronicle of cruelty,' opened to depict NATO's alleged 'crimes' and justify Russia's military campaign in Ukraine.
The display spans historical events from the 1945 atomic bombings to NATO's involvement in Yugoslavia, Iraq, Afghanistan, and its current cooperation with Ukraine.
The exhibition reinforces the Kremlin's narrative that NATO is an existential threat and that the US used Ukraine to provoke conflict with Moscow.
While some visitors and officials praise the exhibition as revealing the 'truth' about the 'rotten Western world,' others denounce it as 'Soviet-style propaganda crap' lacking nuance.

The Buddha Comes Home

Today 15:38 Key points summarised by AI

Chong Para is a vibrant annual festival of the Shan (Tai Yai) people in Mae Hong Son, Thailand, celebrating the Buddha's return from Tavatimsa heaven after Buddhist Lent.
The festival's centerpiece involves families constructing intricate miniature palaces, also called Chong Para, from bamboo, paper, and lights, placed outside homes and temples as offerings.
For three days and nights, the quiet mountain town comes alive with folk music, traditional dances like the Shan bird dance, religious ceremonies, and community gatherings, showcasing deep-rooted Shan culture.
Beyond the celebrations, Chong Para reinforces family bonds, preserves traditional crafts, and offers visitors an authentic immersion into the unique cultural heritage of Mae Hong Son.