Showing 1 - 10 of 368
'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.
Trump says closing Kennedy Center arts complex for two years
AFP, Published on 02/02/2026
» WASHINGTON (UNITED STATES) - US President Donald Trump announced Sunday he is closing the Kennedy Center arts complex in Washington for two years, beginning on July 4 -- the nation's 250th anniversary -- for a thorough renovation.
Online platforms offer filtering to fight AI slop
AFP, Published on 29/01/2026
» NEW YORK - As "AI slop" floods the internet, efforts are mounting to stem an online deluge of shoddy images and videos made using increasingly advanced tech tools.
South Korea's ex-first lady jailed for 20 months for taking bribes
AFP, Published on 28/01/2026
» SEOUL — A South Korean judge handed the country's former first lady Kim Keon Hee 20 months in jail for accepting lavish gifts from a cult-like church on Wednesday, but acquitted her for alleged stock manipulation and other charges.
Fraudsters flee Cambodia's 'scam city' after accused boss taken down
AFP, Published on 16/01/2026
» SIHANOUKVILLE (CAMBODIA) - Hundreds of people dragged away suitcases, computer monitors, pets and furniture as they fled a suspected Cambodian cyberfraud centre, after the country's most wanted alleged scam kingpin was arrested and deported.
Sabrina Carpenter condemns 'evil' use of her music in White House video
AFP, Published on 03/12/2025
» NEW YORK - US pop singer Sabrina Carpenter on Tuesday disavowed the use of one of her songs in a video shared by the White House on social media, describing the clip depicting immigration enforcement raids as "evil and disgusting."
Down to brutal basics in war-torn Ukraine
Anucha Charoenpo, Published on 23/11/2025
» Oleksandra Matviichuk, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022 for her efforts to document war crimes, human rights abuses and power abuse, has called on Asian governments to play a greater role in addressing the humanitarian consequences of Russia's war against Ukraine.
Frida Kahlo painting sells for $54.7 mn in record for female artist
AFP, Published on 22/11/2025
» NEW YORK - A self-portrait by celebrated Mexican artist Frida Kahlo sold for $54.66 million in New York on Thursday, setting a record for the price of a painting by a woman, the auction house Sotheby's said.
'Severely restricted': Russia's Saint Petersburg faces cultural crackdown
AFP, Published on 18/11/2025
» SAINT PETERSBURG - Russian bookseller Lyubov Belyatskaya sighed as she lamented the "climate of widespread anxiety" that has taken hold in her native Saint Petersburg amid the war in Ukraine.
Russia jails teen musician over anti-war street songs for third time
AFP, Published on 12/11/2025
» SAINT PETERSBURG - A Russian court on Tuesday sent an 18-year-old street musician who performed anti-war songs to jail for a third time as the Kremlin mounts a no-limits crackdown on any signs of dissent or opposition.