Best photos of February 15: Winter in California to Art Deco festival in Napier
Traditional instruments are played during the annual boat regatta in Yauri, Kebbi State, Nigeria, on February 14, 2025. The festival began about 200 years ago to celebrate the naval strength of the Gungu people, where warriors annually attacked dangerous hippopotamus that were destroying farmlands. AFP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Gulf Today
8 hours ago
- Gulf Today
Japan's 400,000-follower 'Insta-gran' dies aged 97
A Japanese great-grandmother with 400,000 Instagram followers who shot to fame for her goofy self-portraits after taking up photography aged 72 has died, her son said. Kimiko Nishimoto, who died this week at the age of 97, told AFP in a 2018 interview that "you can take photos no matter how old you get." "Wherever it is, in your house, outside, or in your bed, you can do it. That is the nice thing about a camera," she said. Dubbed the "selfie queen" by Japanese media, Nishimoto's posts showed her in various candid poses — from riding a broom like Harry Potter to imitating an off-duty sumo wrestler on their fifth beer of the night. "Our mother always created her work with a smile," a post from her son Kazutami Nishimoto said on her Instagram account. Kimiko Nishimoto poses next to a picture of her on the sliding window of her house in the western Japanese city of Kumamoto. File / AFP "We are deeply grateful to everyone who visited her photography exhibitions held across the country, to those who shared warm words of encouragement through Instagram... and to all who supported her warmly throughout her journey." Nishimoto's son teaches photography classes, which his mother started taking in retirement. "Though she began photography at the age of 72, she was blessed with countless encounters, which enriched this third chapter of her life tremendously," he said. Nishimoto appeared on national television as her online following grew and was interviewed by major news outlets. But her more out-there visual scenarios were also the cause of some confusion over the years. One snap — showing her wrapped in a garbage bag, as if she had been discarded — drew criticism from people who didn't know she was involved in its set-up. "It's not like ideas just suddenly pop into my head but wherever I go I think about what it would be fun to dress up as in that place," she said in 2018. Agence France-Presse
Gulf Today
a day ago
- Gulf Today
Pakistan's legendary cricketer Akram praises his statue amid social media flak
Legendary Pakistan cricketer Wasim Akram saluted on Thursday the "effort" of the artist who created a statue of him that has spawned scorn on social media. The statue of Akram — one of the greatest left-arm fast bowlers to play the game — was installed outside the southwestern city of Hyderabad's Niaz Stadium in April. Akram is shown bowling wearing the kit of the 1999 World Cup team, when Pakistan were runners-up. Nearby is a statue of a tiger. One fan mocked the statue, saying: "The only thing that looks real is the ball," adding the face looked more like Hollywood hero Sylvester Stallone. The affable Akram, however, took to social media to praise the effort. "Lots of talk about my sculpture being erected at Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad. Mine is definitely better than the tiger," he posted on X. "It's the idea that matters. Credit to the creators, full marks for the effort and thanks to everyone involved." Australia has a history of placing statues of their iconic players outside their stadiums, while India unveiled one of master batter Sachin Tendulkar outside a stadium in Mumbai in 2023. Niaz stadium chief Shiraz Leghari told AFP: "The artist did his best effort, but accepts it doesn't resemble (Akram) a hundred percent." A commuter walks past the statue of Wasim Akram outside the Niaz Stadium in Hyderabad on Thursday. AFP Akram is one of the country's most celebrated cricketers, having represented Pakistan in 104 Tests and 356 ODIs with 414 and 502 wickets respectively. He was the leading wicket-taker in the 1992 World Cup when Pakistan claimed the trophy. Agence France-Presse
Al Etihad
2 days ago
- Al Etihad
Japan's 400,000-follower 'Insta-gran' dies aged 97
12 June 2025 14:12 TOKYO (AFP)A Japanese great-grandmother with 400,000 Instagram followers who shot to fame for her goofy self-portraits after taking up photography aged 72 has died, her son said on Nishimoto, who died this week at the age of 97, told AFP in a 2018 interview that "you can take photos no matter how old you get"."Wherever it is, in your house, outside, or in your bed, you can do it. That is the nice thing about a camera," she the "selfie queen" by Japanese media, Nishimoto's posts showed her in various candid poses -- from riding a broom like Harry Potter to imitating an off-duty sumo wrestler on their fifth beer of the night."Our mother always created her work with a smile," a post from her son Kazutami Nishimoto said on her Instagram account."We are deeply grateful to everyone who visited her photography exhibitions held across the country, to those who shared warm words of encouragement through Instagram... and to all who supported her warmly throughout her journey."Nishimoto's son teaches photography classes, which his mother started taking in retirement."Though she began photography at the age of 72, she was blessed with countless encounters, which enriched this third chapter of her life tremendously," he appeared on national television as her online following grew and was interviewed by major news her more out-there visual scenarios were also the cause of some confusion over the snap -- showing her wrapped in a garbage bag, as if she had been discarded -- drew criticism from people who didn't know she was involved in its set-up. "It's not like ideas just suddenly pop into my head but wherever I go I think about what it would be fun to dress up as in that place," she said in 2018.
