
-
Trump warns Israeli attack on Iran 'could very well happen'
-
Club World Cup a chance for MLS to shine: Giroud
-
UN General Assembly calls for Gaza ceasefire, pressure on Israel
-
'Suck it up' - SGA says fatigue can't be a factor in NBA Finals
-
Bolivia police officer blown up by pro-Morales demonstrators: govt
-
Frank faces pressure to make instant impact at Spurs
-
Im grabs share of US Open lead as Pavon attacks, Scheffler struggles
-
BTS fans gather for K-pop supergroup's annual celebration
-
Northern Ireland hit by fourth night of clashes
-
Thunderstorms may rain on Trump's military parade
-
Manhandling of US senator ups California tensions with Trump admin
-
Spaun takes US Open nervous energy to record Oakmont start
-
Race ban would be his own fault, Russell warns Verstappen
-
Double bogey confidence boost helps Lawrence shine at Open
-
Bolt beams as Alfred, Duplantis and Warholm light up Oslo Diamond League
-
Hamilton slams Italian media speculation on Ferrari and Vasseur
-
Warholm sets world best in 300m hurdles in Oslo Diamond League
-
Duplantis dominates pole vault at Oslo Diamond League
-
Tottenham hire Brentford's Frank as new manager
-
Alfred scorches Diamond League 100m in Oslo
-
Reed makes only fourth albatross in US Open history
-
India plane crash: What we know
-
Cummins says bowler-dominated WTC final still a 'good Test'
-
At least 265 dead in India plane crash, one passenger survives
-
Death toll in S.Africa floods rises to 78
-
Trump boasts troops making Los Angeles 'safe'
-
Trump moves to block California electric cars program
-
Air India crash latest test for new Boeing leadership
-
Trump calls on Israel not to strike as Iran defiant before talks
-
Cummins and Carey shine as Australia remain on top in WTC final despite collapse
-
Los Angeles Grand Slam Track meeting cancelled: sources
-
King Tut gold mask to leave Cairo museum after nearly 100 years
-
California sues Trump for scrapping state's EV rules
-
Spanish PM says knew 'nothing' about corruption case
-
Spaun grabs US Open lead with Scheffler set to attack Oakmont
-
Trump says Israel should not strike Iran, as nuclear deal 'close'
-
Sane joins Galatasaray from Bayern on free transfer
-
Migrants hid in wardrobes to flee N.Ireland unrest: police
-
Pulisic hits back at ex-USA players over absence criticism
-
Fourth policeman killed in clashes with Morales backers in Bolivia
-
South Africa's Rabada and Ngidi spark Australia collapse in WTC final
-
Stewart sprints to Dauphine fifth stage win, Evenepoel holds lead
-
Jury dispute triggers mistrial on Harvey Weinstein rape charge
-
One survivor after London-bound plane with 242 on board crashes in India
-
Heir to an empire, Ferdinand Habsburg seeks new crown at Le Mans
-
Top Spanish ruling party official resigns over corruption case
-
Ukraine's Zelensky hopes to push Trump on US Russia sanctions at G7
-
De Bruyne signs for Napoli after leaving Man City
-
Australia's Cummins rips through South Africa in WTC final before Rabada strikes again
-
'We show up': Pacific leaders apply pressure at oceans summit

German circus replaces live animals with holograms
The smell of sawdust and popcorn fills the air. The clowns, acrobats and magicians are all in place.
As the audience are guided to their seats inside the big top, all the classic elements of the circus are there -- except one. The live animals have been replaced by holograms.
Due to concerns over animal welfare, Germany's Roncalli circus stopped using lions and elephants in its shows in 1991.
But it went further in 2018 and completely removed live animals from its programme.
"It is no longer appropriate for Roncalli to show real animals in the ring," circus boss Patrick Philadelphia, 49, told AFP.
Over the last years, circuses have found themselves increasingly constrained by space.
"If you're setting up in the middle of a marketplace in the centre of town, there is no space for outdoor enclosures for animal runs," said Philadelphia.
The nomadic character of circus life was also a strain for animals like horses which had to be loaded onto wagons and then driven to the next town.
"This no longer made sense for an animal-protecting circus," said Philadelphia.
As Roncalli looked for ways to preserve the magic of animals for children, a show in which Justin Timberlake "collaborates" with a hologram of the late Prince triggered the idea to turn to 3-D imagery.
"If you can project someone who's no longer living onto a holographic screen, why can't you do it with an animal, a horse, an elephant? So that's where the idea came from," said Philadelphia.
- Something unexpected -
In Luebeck, a steam train circling the ring kicks off the show to the sound of "Sunday Morning" by Nico and The Velvet Underground, before a bright green parrot appears.
The bird gives way to an elephant and her baby, who stomp and trumpet at the audience, only to be chased by a herd of galloping horses.
Designing the visual illusion was a technical challenge, as the circus seats its audience in a circle, unlike a theatre where the public sits in front of the stage.
Using 11 cameras, arranged on the ceiling of the big top around the ring, the high-resolution images are projected onto a fine-mesh netting which surrounds the performance space.
When the lights go down, the netting becomes almost invisible, but the images pop out.
While live animals gave a thrill, the new technology also makes it possible for Roncalli to do something unexpected.
"Whatever you can imagine, it can be created by an animator, by a graphic designer, then it can also be shown up in a circus show," said Toni Munar, the technical director of the circus.
- Good without animals -
The absence of animals has become a draw in itself.
"I had never heard of Roncalli before. And then all I found out was that there were definitely no animals. That was especially important to me," said student Sophie Schult, 29.
Previous visits to the circus with her family had left a bad impression with Schult.
"I always saw the narrow cages where they (the animals) were all kept. That is basically animal cruelty," she said during the intermission.
Despite the absence of real elephants or lions, the show still manages to enthuse Andreas Domke and his two sons.
"I think it's good without (animals), because they really try to make the rest of the show special," said the 39-year-old doctor.
The performance works its magic on older audience members, too. Mathias and Marina Martens, both 63, said the spectacle made them feel like children again.
"The acrobatics on show here are amazing," said Mathias Martens, before his wife chimed in: "You do not need the animals there. For that you can go to the zoo and see them."
F.Bennett--AMWN