What We Are Reading Today: ‘Plastics'
Modern and contemporary art wouldn't exist without the invention of plastics. From sculpture to paint, and photography to film, plastics have shaped every major medium of art. In turn, plastics have revolutionized art conservation, transforming the possibilities of preservation but also producing new challenges for conservators struggling to preserve toxic and degrading material. Hailed as utopian in the 20th century, plastics today are often understood as pollution and waste—a central cause of ecological crisis.
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Arab News
6 hours ago
- Arab News
Sean ‘Diddy' Combs is denied release on bond to await sentencing
NEW YORK: Sean 'Diddy' Combs can't go home from jail to await sentencing on his prostitution-related conviction, a judge said Monday, denying the rap and style mogul's latest bid for bail. Combs has been behind bars since his September arrest. He faced federal charges of coercing girlfriends into having drug-fueled sex marathons with male sex workers while he watched and filmed them. He was acquitted last month of the top charges — racketeering and sex trafficking — while being convicted of two counts of a prostitution-related offense. The conviction carries the potential for up to 10 years in prison. But there are complicated federal guidelines for calculating sentences in any given case, and prosecutors and Combs' lawyers disagree substantially on how the guidelines come out for his case. In any event, the guidelines aren't mandatory, and Judge Arun Subramanian will have wide latitude in deciding Combs' punishment. The Bad Boy Records founder, now 55, was for decades a protean figure in pop culture. A Grammy-winning hip hop artist and entrepreneur with a flair for finding and launching big talents, he presided over a business empire that ranged from fashion to reality TV. Prosecutors claimed he used his fame, wealth and violence to force and manipulate two now-ex-girlfriends into days-long, drugged-up sexual performances he called 'freak-offs' or 'hotel nights.' His lawyers argued that the government tried to criminalize consensual, if unconventional, sexual tastes that played out in complicated relationships. The defense acknowledged that Combs had violent outbursts but said nothing he did came amounted to the crimes with which he was charged. Since the verdict, his lawyers have repeatedly renewed their efforts to get him out on bail until his sentencing, set for October. They have argued that the acquittals undercut the rationale for holding him, and they have pointed to other people who were released before sentencing on similar convictions. Defense lawyer Marc Agnifilo suggested in a court filing that Combs was the United States' 'only person in jail for hiring adult male escorts for him and his girlfriend.' The defense's most recent proposal included a $50 million bond and travel restrictions and expressed openness to adding on house arrest at his Miami home, electronic monitoring, private security guards and other requirements. Prosecutors opposed releasing Combs. They wrote that his 'extensive history of violence — and his continued attempt to minimize his recent violent conduct — demonstrates his dangerousness and that he is not amendable to supervision.'
Arab News
17 hours ago
- Arab News
Denver set to host Global Champions Arabians Tour for first time
DOHA: The Global Champions Arabians Tour, or GCAT, makes its debut in Denver, the US, with the fourth stage of the 2025 Americas Series taking place from Aug. 8-9 at the National Western Complex. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport Following the success of GCAT's events in Scottsdale, Miami Beach and Sao Paulo, the Denver stage brings the world's leading Arabian horse championship to the heart of the American West. The two-day event will showcase more than 100 purebred Arabian horses competing across yearling, junior and senior categories. The Denver stage offers a total prize purse of $270,000 and qualifies winners for the GCAT Americas overall ranking, which awards $1.275 million to the top 20 male and female horses and top 20 handlers, with an additional $50,000 bonus for the highest-scoring horse across the series. 'We're thrilled to bring the Global Champions Arabians Tour to Denver for the very first time,' said Sheikh Mohammed bin Nasser Al-Thani, deputy CEO of the Global Champions Arabians Tour. 'This stage reflects the tour's mission of expanding the reach and impact of Arabian horse sport across new territories,' he said. 'We look forward to welcoming the Denver community to witness excellence and heritage come alive in one of America's most iconic equestrian settings.' The event begins on Friday, Aug. 8, with a day of qualifying rounds across yearling, junior and senior categories, with each class evaluated by a panel of international judges. In addition to the competitions, Friday will also feature cultural displays, retail booths and interactive experiences. Saturday, Aug. 9, marks the pinnacle of the weekend for the championship, where the top qualifiers return to compete for gold, silver and bronze titles. The day will include formal award ceremonies, the official honoring of GCAT officials, and opportunities to meet the winning horses and handlers. The arena will then transform into a concert venue for a closing performance by country music artists Big & Rich. After Denver, the tour continues to Las Vegas, for the final stop of the GCAT Americas series from Sept. 26-28, as GCAT moves closer to its grand finale, the World Arabian Horse Championship Supreme in Doha, on Dec. 3-6. Rankings after last event in Sao Paulo: Top female horses 1. Exxaltress – 40 pts 2. SedonaAS – 37 pts 3. Vixxen K – 30 pts Top male horses 1. Tasheem PMA – 40 pts 2. SVBCalais – 37 pts 3. Rhaphael SBA – 35 pts Top handlers 1. Sandro Pinha – 153 pts 2. RicardoRivero – 131 pts 3. Andy Selman – 120 pts
Arab News
3 days ago
- Arab News
Mona Tougaard poses for Marc Jacobs
DUBAI: Model Mona Tougaard posed for Marc Jacobs's Fall 2025 campaign, showcasing the brand's new Cristina Satchel bag. For the latest updates, follow us on Instagram @ In the photos shared on Instagram, Tougaard, who has Danish, Turkish, Somali and Ethiopian roots, was seen wearing a sleek black halter-neck dress with tall black boots, accessorizing with the statement bag. A post shared by Marc Jacobs (@marcjacobs) The Cristina Satchel is a structured yet slouchy shoulder bag crafted in olive-green leather, featuring a gathered top, gold hardware, a front lock closure and dangling key charms. Also featured in the campaign is American actress and model Diana Silvers, who appears in other pictures wearing the tote version of the bag. A post shared by Marc Jacobs (@marcjacobs) Tougaard has become a familiar face at Marc Jacobs, appearing in both runway shows and brand imagery. Last year, she fronted the Fall 2024 eyewear launch titled 'The Sunglasses.' Tougaard started her modeling career in 2017 after winning the Elite Model Look Denmark competition at the age of 15. Since then, she has become a prominent figure in the fashion industry, known for her work with top designers and luxury brands including Prada, Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Chanel and Valentino. The model has had a busy year this year. She starred in a Versace campaign in February. A post shared by Mona Tougaard (@mona_tougaard) She was seen on video reclining on a deep orange sofa, her hair styled in a sleek, straight look with blunt bangs. She wore a two-piece ensemble combining various textures and patterns. A lilac-toned sequined crop-top featured delicate yellow floral embroidery, thin straps and a plunging neckline. The skirt, in rich brown satin, had an intricate overlay of cream floral lace. During New York Fashion Week, also in February, she graced the runway for Tory Burch Fall/Winter 2025 show. She sported a look in rich navy, including a shaggy-textured coat draped over matching velvet pants. A structured scarf was wrapped around her shoulders, secured with a gold pin. The look was completed with glossy pointed-toe shoes and she carried a slouchy black leather handbag with soft folds and a long strap. In January, she was part of the Schiaparelli Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2025 show at Paris Fashion Week, when she wore a halter-neck dress with a sheer, form-fitting bodice that transitioned into a voluminous skirt with meticulously folded fabric.
