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Nara city, home to friendly wild deer
The ancient capital of Nara in western Japan is famous for wild deer that freely roam around a public park in the heart of the city. The free-roaming deer are even seen to cross busy streets or visit houses nearby Nara Park. According to the Nara Deer Preservation Foundation, more than 1,100 wild deer, including some 80 fawns, roamed in and around the 5 sq km park as of July 2021.The free-roaming deer have been believed to be messengers of a god...
Indian Ambassador Sibi George inaugurates 'Namaste Kuwait' festival as Joice Sibi looks on.
The culture-connect: ‘Namaste Kuwait’ celebrates national days
By Sajeev K PeterKUWAIT: The curtain went up on ‘Namaste Kuwait’, a weeklong cultural festival at the Indian Embassy on Sunday on the occasion of Kuwait’s National and Liberation Days. Marking a long cultural history and cherished Kuwait-India partnership, the festival celebrates the vibrant culture-connect between the countries during the festive month of February.At a glittering function, Indian Ambassador Sibi George and his spouse Joice...
A photograph shows thread rolls displayed at the New Craft House, a sewing workshop studio and designer deadstock fabric shop, pose for pictures in Hackney, East London. — AFP photos
Fast-fashion fallout: Young people in UK spurred into sewing
From jogging outfits to summer dresses, Lea Baecker has stitched together most of her wardrobe herself from inside her London flat, part of a burgeoning number of young amateur seamstresses. Like many others in the growing horde of sew-it-yourself enthusiasts, she has grown increasingly disillusioned with the retail clothing industry, viewing it as too destructive. “My main motivation was not having to buy ready-to-wear clothes anymore because...
TUNIS: Tunisians shop at Halfaouine market near central Tunis. The small North African country, roiled by years of political turmoil that deepened with President Kais Saied’s power grab last July, is also mired in a deep recession. —AFP
Tunisians fear more economic pain as crucial IMF talks loom
TUNIS: Every day at the family grocery stall in a Tunis market, Bilel Jani sees the reality of a biting economic crisis, which for many has overshadowed Tunisia’s latest political turmoil. “People here are poor,” he said, handing a meager bag of olives to a customer. “Most of our customers are living day-to-day. Monthly salaries these days don’t even cover a week.”The small North African country, roiled by years of political turmoil...
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NatWest back in black as economy recovers from COVID
LONDON: Britain’s NatWest bank said Friday that it surged back into annual profit last year as the economy recovered from COVID, and forecast it stands to gain from rising interest rates. The lender, which is majority-owned by the government, said in a statement that net profit hit £2.95 billion ($4 billion, 3.5 billion euros) in 2021. That contrasted sharply with a loss of £753 million the prior year, when it set aside £3.2 billion in...
SAVENAY, France: This file photograph taken on July 8, 2019, shows the logo of French automobile maker Renault at Savenay, western France.
Renault returns to profit but chip shortage hits output
PARIS: Renault returned to profit last year but the global shortage of semiconductors will crimp production again in 2022, the French automaker said Friday. The company posted a better-than-expected net profit of 967 million euros ($1.1 billion) after a record eight-billion-euro loss in 2020, when the onset of the pandemic pummelled the global economy.Renault sold fewer cars last year but the company has cut costs, raised prices and shifted to a...
Models present creations from British designer Mark Fast during the catwalk show for the Autumn/Winter 2022 collection on the first full day of London Fashion Week in London.  —  AFP photos
Street styles, neon kick off London Fashion Week
Fashionistas braved gale-force winds in London on Friday to attend the first Fashion Week shows, with a schedule dominated by up-and-coming young designers. Gusts ripped through the streets of the British capital as crowds, wrapped up in coats and hats, flocked to the week’s first live shows with attendees, which make up about half of the five-day event’s timetable.It kicked off with sustainable label SOHUMAN, created by Spaniard Javier...
Bulls lock horns during a traditional bullfight in the Gulf emirate of Fujairah. Far from Dubai’s gleaming skyscrapers and renowned camel races, a bullfight is underway in the emirate of Fujairah, where the tradition continues unbeknown to most in the United Arab Emirates. — AFP photos
Little-known bullfighting tradition lives on in UAE village
Far from Dubai’s gleaming skyscrapers and renowned camel races, a bullfight is under way in the emirate of Fujairah, where the tradition continues unbeknown to most in the United Arab Emirates. “Look at them fight!” a commentator shouts into a microphone as the first bovine battle of the day kicks off, sending up clouds of dust in the village of Al-Qurayyah.Two bulls, each weighing in at hundreds of kilograms (pounds), charge at each other...
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Hundreds defy ban to celebrate Pakistan kite festival
Hundreds of Pakistani youths flew kites from rooftops in the garrison city of Rawalpindi on Friday, celebrating an ancient colourful festival despite a ban imposed by authorities in 2007 following a spate of accidents. Enthusiasts have in the past used acid-soaked string and piano wire in kite-fighting battles, causing terrible injuries to people caught by tangles across roads-including slitting the throats of motorcyclists.Victorious...
A picture taken on Feb 16, 2022 in Istanbul shows the Suleymaniye Mosque’s domes and a building under construction (back) stopped by the Istanbul metropolitan municipality (IBB). — AFP
Istanbul skyline row over new build near iconic mosque
The soaring minarets of the 16th-century Suleymaniye mosque paint the postcard image of Istanbul, but that is now blighted by rickety wooden scaffolding at a nearby construction site, sparking fury on social media. The latest row over Istanbul’s skyline has seen opponents of the new building attack botched restoration work and calls for historical edifices to be protected. “The disrespect, there is no recognition of any proportion or any...
ARLINGTON, US: A sign advertises to purchase cars at a used car dealership in Arlington, Virginia.—AFP
High US inflation ‘not acceptable’ but recovery on track: Yellen
WASHINGTON: Soaring US inflation rates are “not acceptable” but the health of the world’s largest economy is fundamentally sound thanks to policies that have mitigated the impact of the pandemic, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said. Yellen conceded in an interview she is “concerned” about inflation running at its highest level in decades, and warned of further “global fallout” if the West moves ahead with punishing sanctions on...
GLASGOW:  In this file photo taken on November 03, 2021 US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen speaks to the press during the COP26 UN Climate Summit in Glasgow. —AFP
China needs to be ‘more active’ in G20 debt relief effort: Yellen
WASHINGTON: US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said China needs to do more to accelerate global efforts to provide debt relief for poor nations that ramped up borrowing during the pandemic. In an interview with AFP, Yellen acknowledged the Group of 20’s initiative to help debtor nations “has not been going very rapidly,” and the United States “would hope to see more active participation” from China. Yellen participates virtually in the...