Showing 1 - 10 of 2,541
Shein in EU crosshairs over ‘childlike’ sex dolls
AFP, Published on 17/02/2026
» BRUSSELS - The European Union on Tuesday opened an investigation into the online retail giant Shein over the sale of childlike sex dolls and what it called the platform’s “addictive design”.
France loosens rules on allowing farmers to shoot wolves
AFP, Published on 17/02/2026
» VAL-DE-MEUSE — The French government said Monday it would authorise the shooting of wolves that attack livestock even outside protected enclosures, a policy shift welcomed by farmers, a powerful and increasingly disgruntled constituency.
Bitter pill: Taliban government shakes up Afghan medicine market
AFP, Published on 16/02/2026
» KABUL — Afghanistan's decision to overhaul its medicine market was meant to improve quality and boost domestic production, but industry specialists say the swift changes have led to a litany of problems.
Cuba cancels cigar festival as fuel crisis escalates
AFP, Published on 15/02/2026
» HAVANA - Cuba on Saturday announced the cancellation of its iconic cigar festival, amid a major energy crisis sparked by US pressure on the cash-strapped island.
'Punk wellness': China's stressed youth mix traditional medicine and cocktails
AFP, Published on 13/02/2026
» SHANGHAI — In a softly lit Shanghai bar, graduate student Helen Zhao stretched out both wrists to have her pulse taken -- the first step to ordering the house special, a bespoke "health" cocktail based on traditional Chinese medicine.
Dreaming of glory at Rio's carnival, far from elite parades
AFP, Published on 13/02/2026
» RIO DE JANEIRO - In a faded rehearsal hall in the gritty concrete sprawl of northern Rio de Janeiro, samba dancers and drummers fine-tune their rhythms for a grassroots carnival parade few tourists have heard of.
Plenty of peaks, but skiing yet to take off in Central Asia
AFP, Published on 12/02/2026
» BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan - Two weeks before setting off for the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics to compete as Kyrgyzstan’s only alpine skier, Timur Shakirov was weaving down a slalom course in his homeland.
'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.
Moderna says US refusing to review mRNA-based flu shot
AFP, Published on 11/02/2026
» NEW YORK - Vaccine manufacturer Moderna said on Tuesday the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was refusing to review an application for its first mRNA-based flu shot.
US trial lawyer says Meta, YouTube 'engineered addiction' in children
AFP, Published on 10/02/2026
» LOS ANGELES (UNITED STATES) - Meta and Google-owned YouTube "engineered addiction" in children, a lawyer for the plaintiff said on Monday as a landmark trial on the effects of social media on minors began in earnest in a California court.