Showing 1 - 10 of 303
'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.
Russia resumes strikes on freezing Ukrainian capital
AFP, Published on 03/02/2026
» KYIV - Russia launched its biggest drone and missile attack this year on Ukraine overnight, leaving hundreds of thousands without heating in freezing temperatures on Tuesday, just one day ahead of fresh talks aiming to find an end to the four-year war.
Ukraine war talks delayed to Wednesday, says Zelensky
AFP, Published on 02/02/2026
» KYIV (UKRAINE) - A second round of talks between Russian, Ukrainian and US officials on a US-drafted plan to end the nearly four-year Ukraine war will begin on Wednesday, instead of Sunday, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
China's Buddha artisans carve out a living from dying trade
AFP, Published on 19/01/2026
» SUZHOU, China - In a dimly lit workshop in eastern China, craftsman Zhang measured and shaped a block of wood into a foot as dozens of half-completed life-sized Buddha statues looked on silently.
'Hobbit houses' that might just save a Moldovan village
AFP, Published on 16/01/2026
» ROGOJENI — They call Rogojeni the "hobbit village", and its little half-buried houses, built to resist Moldova's cold winters and hot summers, do look like something from "The Lord of the Rings".
McDonald’s pulls AI Christmas ad in Netherlands
AFP, Published on 11/12/2025
» THE HAGUE - The restaurant chain McDonald’s has pulled an AI-generated Christmas commercial in the Netherlands after it was widely criticised online.
LIV Golf switching to 72-hole format in 2026: official
AFP, Published on 05/11/2025
» NEW YORK — LIV Golf will abandon its abbreviated 54-hole format in favour of 72-hole tournaments in 2026, officials said on Tuesday.
Irish octogenarian enjoys new lease on life making harps
AFP, Published on 30/10/2025
» STRABANE, Northern Ireland - “It’s never too late to start a new hobby,” says 89-year-old Irish harp-maker Noel Anderson, one of only a few making the intricate instrument, a national symbol of Ireland.
'My heart sank': Surging scams roil US job hunters
AFP, Published on 06/10/2025
» WASHINGTON - After a series of interviews, Nicole Becker was ecstatic to receive a job offer from a sportswear brand. But like many Americans navigating a tough job market, she was soon confronted with a sobering reality -- the recruiter was a scammer.
India's divine designs meld with AI at Durga Puja festival
AFP, Published on 29/09/2025
» KOLKATA - Millions in India's eastern city of Kolkata will draw on millennia-old traditions when they celebrate the Hindu festival of Durga Puja this week with street parties and worshipping idols in elaborate pavilions.