Latest News

We're hiring: babies wanted for Japan nursing home
We're hiring: babies wanted for Japan nursing home
World
by  AFP

A nursing home in southern Japan is "hiring" babies for a very important job -- to keep its elderly residents company and make them smile. "The mere sight of babies makes our residents smile," she told AFP, adding with a chuckle that "there is no shift roster or anything".

In shadow of abandoned US airbase, Bagram's economy withers
In shadow of abandoned US airbase, Bagram's economy withers
World
by  AFP

For years, the sprawling military base at Bagram, just north of Kabul, was a potent symbol of the United States' two decades of war in Afghanistan. But weeks before Washington officially ended its military presence in Afghanistan last August, US troops left the airbase in the dead of night.

French-Indian textile designer brings back Mughal patterns
French-Indian textile designer brings back Mughal patterns
World
by  AFP

Textiles designer Brigitte Singh lovingly lays out a piece of cloth embossed with a red poppy plant she says was probably designed for emperor Shah Jahan, builder of the Taj Mahal, four centuries ago. It was her father-in-law, a major collector of Rajasthan miniatures, who gave her the Mughal-era poppy cloth connected to Shah Jahan.

Ukraine students brace for underground school year
Ukraine students brace for underground school year
World
by  AFP

Five metres beneath a Kyiv classroom, headmaster Mykhaylo Aliokhin puts the finishing touches on the bunker where his students will spend much of their time once Ukraine's school term starts later this week. "I live next to my school," said 16-year-old Polina, enjoying time with friends at a Kyiv cafe the week before school restarts.

China imposes Covid-19 lockdowns for millions around Beijing
China imposes Covid-19 lockdowns for millions around Beijing
World
by  AFP

Millions of people in areas surrounding China's capital were ordered into lockdown Tuesday, with authorities doubling down on efforts to contain Covid-19 ahead of a key ruling Communist Party meeting this year. Nearly four million people in Hebei province, which surrounds Beijing, were ordered to stay home until the end of the week as officials rush to curb a small virus flare-up.

Taiwan, China trade barbs over island drone incursions
Taiwan, China trade barbs over island drone incursions
World
by  AFP

Taipei and Beijing have traded barbs over a recent string of drone sorties that have flown from the Chinese mainland to an outlying Taiwanese island, some surveilling military outposts. Civilian Chinese fishing and sand dredging vessels, for example, have increasingly entered into waters around Taiwanese outlying islands in recent years.

Liberia's Weah under pressure over 'corrupt' allies
Liberia's Weah under pressure over 'corrupt' allies
Africa
by  AFP

Liberian President George Weah is facing a backlash over his handling of corruption accusations made by the United States against three of his close allies. McGill and Cephus have responded with letters to President Weah, with McGill denying some accusations and decrying others as "vague".