Showing 1 - 10 of 138
Amid Ukraine war fallout, fearful Chechen women seek escape route
AFP, Published on 28/01/2026
» EUROPE - Facing what activists say is a hardening of repression inside Chechnya amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Asil and Aishat, both young women, recently fled their violent families in search of safety.
Upstart gangsters shake Japan's yakuza
AFP, Published on 19/12/2025
» TOKYO - When Takanori Kuzuoka began climbing the criminal career ladder, he didn't fancy joining Japan's old-school yakuza, with their tattoos, rigid hierarchy and codes of honour.
Need to pee? Japan has a QR code for that
AFP, Published on 28/08/2025
» TOKYO - The Japanese toilet maker Toto has introduced a service allowing those caught short in public to locate the nearest washrooms and see how busy they are real-time with a phone and QR code.
France's Versailles unveils AI-powered talking statues
AFP, Published on 25/06/2025
» VERSAILLES (FRANCE) - Visitors to France's famed Palace of Versailles can now strike up a conversation with talking statues instead of listening to a traditional audio guide, as part of a new collaboration with artificial intelligence companies, the palace has said.
Elitist no more, caviar is turning casual
AFP, Published on 29/04/2025
» PARIS — When Burger King announced it was selling caviar with nuggets at its French restaurants on April 1, many people assumed it was an April Fool's joke.
Clerical sex abuse: Pope Francis's thorniest challenge
AFP, Published on 21/04/2025
» VATICAN CITY - When Pope Francis took over in 2013, the Catholic Church was embroiled in a global scandal over child sex abuse by priests, and the institution's attempts to cover it up.
Miuccia Prada's path from activist to top designer
AFP, Published on 10/04/2025
» MILAN (ITALY) - As a student in the volatile May of 1968, Miuccia Prada took to the streets of Milan to demonstrate for women's rights wearing an Yves Saint Laurent suit.
Coe hopeful with IOC vote finishing line in sight
AFP, Published on 01/02/2025
» PARIS - Sebastian Coe said on Friday he feels he has a fighting chance of becoming the next leader of the Olympic movement after he and his rivals faced an intense day of presentations.
QR codes, shut metros: Police outline Paris Olympics security
AFP, Published on 29/11/2023
» PARIS - The Paris police chief has outlined drastic security measures for next year's summer Olympics, sparking an outcry from politicians Wednesday who said they were an attack on civic freedoms.
Diamond trade polishes its act as Russia sanctions loom
AFP, Published on 28/11/2023
» ANTWERP (BELGIUM) - As European capitals prepare to implement long-awaited sanctions on Russia's diamond exports, Belgian traders are bracing for new scrutiny of their industry.