At a time when it isn’t always easy to see the funny side, comedians from Denmark to Dubai are providing a vital service by keeping us smiling – while making the powerful nervous. We hail these satirists, cartoonists and…
As a global Japanese image, Doraemon aptly combines cuteness and faith in technology. But with the blue robot cat from the future seeming increasingly rooted in the past, there’s a sense that Tokyo’s soft-power brokers want…
Japan is full of master craftsmen, traditional stage artists and virtuoso musicians. But it’s only the elite – and those who have been plying their trade for decades – that is rewarded with the accolade of “living national…
Alaska’s youngest governor, Sarah Palin, is taking US politics by storm. Her anti-corruption drives have found astonishing success – her approval rating is at 90 per cent. Now Rudy Giuliani is rumoured to want her as his…
There’s no time like winter for making yourself cosy with a good book – which is also why a well-chosen title is a great gift for the people in your life. Here’s where to pick one up, whether you’re in Kolkata or Seoul.