LIfestyle

A "therapy dog" is providing some sorely needed comfort and entertainment for traumatised Ukrainian children displaced by the war raging in their country.

At the "Dr. Doc" therapy centre in the southern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia, the kids are invited to stroke Evsei, a friendly spaniel, shake his paw and play games with him, while volunteers sing and dance to entertain them all.

Hollywood's film academy on Friday banned Will Smith from attending the Oscars for 10 years after the best actor winner slapped presenter Chris Rock on stage at the Academy Awards ceremony 12 days ago.

Barcelona beachgoers will no longer have to contend with cigarette butts or passive smoke starting in July when Spain's second largest city will ban smoking on all its beaches, the city hall said on Friday.

From samurai armour to a folding screen depicting Mount Fuji, dozens of Japanese artifacts from the British royal collection go on public display in a new exhibition at the Queen's Gallery near Buckingham Palace.

"Japan: Courts and Culture", which opens on Friday, features more than 150 items, including gifts from Japanese emperors to Queens Victoria and Elizabeth.