Noida (India) (AFP) – For his latest Paris haute couture collection, Indian designer Rahul Mishra’s attempts to encapsulate the universe. Monday’s Fashion Week debut of “Cosmos” is the latest showcase for one of Asia’s leading stylists, whose works have been modelled by Michelle Yeoh, Viola Davis and other major film stars.
Belgaum (India) (AFP) – Dedicated to an Indian goddess as a child, Huvakka Bhimappa’s years of sexual servitude began when her uncle took her virginity, raping her in exchange for a saree and some jewellery. Bhimappa was not yet 10 years old when she became a “devadasi” — girls coerced by their parents into an elaborate wedding ritual with a Hindu deity, many of whom are then forced into illegal prostitution.
Macau (AFP) – Macau’s streets were packed in the run-up to the Lunar New Year after pandemic controls were abruptly lifted. “We don’t have enough goods for this Lunar New Year as we didn’t expect this,” a business owner surnamed Li told AFP.
Monterey Park (United States) (AFP) – People from Monterey Park community and Los Angeles lay flowers in front of the Star Dance Studio in Monterey Park, where 11 people died in a mass shooting Saturday as they celebrated the Lunar New Year near Los Angeles.
McMurdo Station (Antarctica) (AFP) – A huge iceberg measuring 1,550 square kilometres (598 square miles) has broken off the Antarctic ice shelf near a research station, the British Antarctic Survey has announced. The researchers say the formation of the new iceberg was not due to climate change, which is accelerating the loss of sea ice in the Arctic and parts of Antarctica.
Riyadh (AFP) – Football fans in Riyadh are “living the dream” after Cristiano Ronaldo makes a winning start to life in the Saudi Pro League by leading Al Nassr to a 1-0 victory over Ettifaq.
Monterey Park (United States) (AFP) – California police search for what compelled a 72-year-old man of Asian descent to shoot dead 10 people as they celebrated Lunar New Year at a dance hall in the Los Angeles suburbs.
Macau (AFP) – Macau’s streets have been bustling in the run-up to the Lunar New Year, but it is far from business as usual as the Chinese casino hub wrestles with questions about its future as Beijing pushes the former Portuguese colony to diversify its casino-reliant economy.
Monterey Park (United States) (AFP) – People lay flowers and light candles in front of the Star Dance Studio in Monterey Park, where 10 people died in a mass shooting Saturday as they celebrated the Lunar New Year near Los Angeles.
Pretoria (AFP) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrives for talks in South Africa where he is greeted by his counterpart Naledi Pandor in Pretoria.
Wuhan (China) (AFP) – Residents of China’s Wuhan say they are hopeful for the future and no longer afraid of Covid-19, three years after the city was locked down over what was then a mysterious virus. Since Beijing ordered the city to be sealed off in a bid to suffocate the outbreak in January 2020, Covid has spread across the planet, killing millions and plunging the global economy into turmoil.
Wuhan (China) (AFP) – Residents of China’s Wuhan flock to Guiyuan temple to offer prayers, light incense and leave food at the temple as an offering to the gods as part of Lunar New Year tradition three years after the city was locked down over what was then a mysterious virus. IMAGES
