Showing 1 - 10 of 47
'Artists of steel': Japanese swords forge new fanbase
AFP, Published on 11/02/2026
» MISATO, SAITAMA (JAPAN) - Sparks illuminate the soot-covered studio of Japanese swordsmith Akihira Kawasaki as his apprentice hammers red-hot steel, showcasing a millennium-old craft now enjoying a resurgence in popularity.
Madagascar president sacks government following deadly protests
AFP, Published on 30/09/2025
» ANTANANARIVO - Madagascar's President Andry Rajoelina on Monday sacked his government following days of deadly unrest which the United Nations said has left at least 22 people dead.
Madagascar police fire tear gas at protest over power, water cuts
AFP, Published on 26/09/2025
» ANTANANARIVO - Madagascar police fired tear gas and rubber bullets Thursday as protests in the capital Antananarivo over repeated water and electricity outages spiralled into chaos with looting and arson.
Seville wins Tokyo 100m for first Jamaican men's sprint title in 10 years
AFP, Published on 14/09/2025
» TOKYO — Oblique Seville won Jamaica's first men's world 100-metre title in 10 years after outpacing Kishane Thompson and defending champion Noah Lyles for gold in Tokyo on Sunday.
'KPop Demon Hunters' craze hits theatres after topping Netflix, music charts
AFP, Published on 23/08/2025
» LOS ANGELES — Netflix's gargantuan hit film "KPop Demon Hunters" has captured the global zeitgeist this summer, smashing streaming and music chart records. Now it is coming for movie theatres.
Studio Ghibli marks 40 years, but future looks uncertain
AFP, Published on 06/06/2025
» TOKYO - Japan's Studio Ghibli turns 40 this month with two Oscars and legions of fans young and old won over by its complex plots and fantastical hand-drawn animation.
Digital divas: Can Japan's virtual YouTuber craze crack America?
AFP, Published on 11/04/2025
» TOKYO — Fans waved glow sticks at an animated character on stage, having packed a sold-out Hollywood concert hall to see their virtual idol perform -- showcasing the global ambitions of Japan's "VTuber" subculture.
Former sex worker records Tokyo's red-light history
AFP, Published on 14/03/2025
» TOKYO — It is late morning and steam is rising from water tanks atop the colourful but opaque-windowed "soapland" sex parlours in a historic Tokyo red-light district.
On Christmas Eve, Pope Francis launches holy Jubilee year
AFP, Published on 25/12/2024
» VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis opened the "Holy Door" of St Peter's Basilica on Christmas Eve on Tuesday, launching the Jubilee year of Catholic celebrations set to draw more than 30 million pilgrims to Rome.
No stars? Comic-Con returns to roots as Hollywood strikes
AFP, Published on 21/07/2023
» SAN DIEGO - Comic books, video games and colorful "cosplay" outfits took center stage at Comic-Con as the giant pop culture event kicked off Thursday without its usual A-list stars due to the Hollywood strike.