Prague / AFP The giant Slav Epic series by Art Nouveau icon Alfons Mucha is caught in a legal tug-of-war between the city of Prague and the Czech painter’s grandson, triggered by plans to send the work on tour to Japan. Though the late artist seduced early 20th century Paris with his floral posters of actress Sarah Bernhardt, Mucha …

  Yangon / AFP Moshing and sweating, the crowd of headbangers scream their angst into the sultry Yangon night, a rare glimpse of a defiant musical subculture now crashing into the open remain off the song sheet. Half a century of repressive military rule virtually silenced Myanmar’s heavy metal scene and today its musicians are still shunned by most people …

  London / AFP Europe’s stock markets advanced on Thursday and the dollar soared after the US Federal Reserve hiked interest rates as expected — and signalled three more rises next year. The news sent the dollar spiking to a near 14-year high against the euro, as the hawkish prospect of more rate increases cemented support for the greenback. Shortly …