Beyonce jumps into athleisure market with Ivy Park clothing line

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Recording star Beyonce launched a women's fitness clothing line on Thursday featuring bodysuits, leggings and headbands, named in part for her 4-year-old daughter, Blue Ivy.

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German train operator: women-only compartments not reaction to New Year attacks

LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - A German railway company which has introduced women-only compartments on one line said on Thursday the move was not a reaction to the New Year sex attacks in...

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Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid dies suddenly at 65

LONDON (Reuters) - Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid, whose fluid, futuristic designs were used in buildings across the world to widespread acclaim, has died of a heart attack at the age of 65, her...

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Palmyra's dynamited temple can be restored, de-miners use robots

DAMASCUS (Reuters) - Palmyra's renowned Temple of Bel, blown up by Islamic State last year, is not beyond repair but the full extent of damage in the ancient city could take weeks to establish...

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Vatican investigates claim hospital funds used to refurbish cardinal's flat

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The Vatican said on Thursday it is investigating two former officials over claims money meant for a children's hospital was used to refurbish a cardinal's luxury...

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Visits to Berlin's Islamic Museum restore pride in Syrian refugees

BERLIN (Reuters) - Arabic-language guide Razan Nassreddine says Syrian refugees visiting Berlin's Museum of Islamic Art often ask her how and when the artifacts clearly marked as stemming from their...

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Could this megacopter carry people?

Students who have a remote-controlled multicopter drone that set a Guinness World Record for the heaviest payload ever lifted by such a vehicle say they hope to get permission to fly a person in its...

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Israel sees tourism growth from China, India

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel is looking east to China and India to help drive tourism, as visits to the country have yet to fully recover from the 2014 Gaza war, Tourism Ministry Director-General...

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Unpaid Chinese investors descend on offices of martial arts movie backer

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - More than 100 Chinese investors descended on the Shanghai offices of Jinlu Financial Advisors on Thursday demanding their money back from investments, including those tied to a...

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Move over Mao: Beijing tomb sweepers preen pampered pets' graves

BEIJING (Reuters) - China celebrates the Qingming tomb-sweeping festival on Monday, with much of the ceremonial ritual of honoring the dead these days not geared toward beloved relatives, but beloved...

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Sex trafficking 'staggering' in illegal Latin American gold mines: researchers

BOGOTA (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - The scale of sex trafficking around illegal gold mines in parts of Latin America is "staggering," and thousands of people working there are prey to labor...

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U.S. fills in the blanks as coloring books sweep market

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Coloring books, once seen only as a pastime for children, have become a growing craze for American adults looking to unwind or test their creativity with coloring pencils.

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'Tell the truth', Auschwitz survivor urges accused in Nazi trials

BERLIN (Reuters) - A Holocaust survivor said on Tuesday that four suspects accused by German prosecutors of being accessory to murder at Auschwitz must have known of the mass killings taking place at...

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'South Africa's Schwarzenegger' aims to lift poor with township gyms

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Striding around the gym he built in his grandmother's backyard, South African bodybuilding champion Tumi Masite recalls the day Arnold Schwarzenegger's former trainer paid...

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Harvard to honor slaves who worked on campus in 1700s

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (Reuters) - Harvard University plans to install a plaque next week honoring four slaves who worked on the campus in the 1700s, to acknowledge its role in slavery, the Ivy League...

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Child labor rises in Gaza amid soaring unemployment

GAZA (Reuters) - Child labor has risen sharply in Gaza, where youngsters toiling in garages and on construction sites have become breadwinners for families feeling the brunt of the Palestinian...

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Banksy's 'Happy Choppers' leads works up for auction in California

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A collection of works by elusive British graffiti artist Banksy left on walls, screen prints and other unorthodox means is expected to sell for more than $500,000 when it goes...

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Bound with love: art of bookbinding flourishes in London

LONDON - In an age of Kindles and e-books, a small workshop in south London is sticking to tradition by binding books the old fashioned way.

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Sleep tight and don't let the sharks bite at Paris aquarium

PARIS (Reuters) - The house rules are clear: No swimming at night, keep your head and feet in the bedroom at all times, and avoid watching "Jaws" beforehand. It might put you off the sharks circling...

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Mongolia’s steppes host camel derby and beauty parade

DALANZADGAD, Mongolia (Reuters) - Out in the Gobi Desert, the crowd, many in colorful Mongolian traditional dress, admire the shaggy-haired, cud-chewing camels as they plod by in a beauty parade.

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Japan's 'Masked Girls' seek fame under cover

TOKYO (Reuters) - Standing out from Japan's myriad of girl bands can be a daunting task, but one group, the "Kamen Joshi", or "Masked Girls" in Japanese, has found the answer by hiding behind masks.

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UK's William and Kate set to visit Taj Mahal, evoking Diana's famous photo

LONDON (Reuters) - More than two decades after Britain's Princess Diana was pictured forlornly alone at the Taj Mahal, her son Prince William and his wife Kate will visit the Indian landmark next...

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Young Chinese question marriage pressure as divorce rate climbs

BEIJING (Reuters) - At a registry office in Beijing, Sun Xiangshu and Shi Ci pose for photographs, their wedding certificates in hand, having just officially become man and wife.

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British team defeats Germans to win World Marble Championship

CRAWLEY, England - British team the Yorkshire Meds,' captured the World Marbles Championship on Friday after last year's winner, Germany's  the 1st MC Erzgebirge, was knocked out in the semi-finals.

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Arkansas sheriff digs into clothing budget for fashion statement

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Reuters) - An Arkansas sheriff with a similar name to a Wild West legend has spent about half of his office's clothing budget to supply deputies in his mostly urban county with...

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Beyonce, Easter Bunny highlight Obama's final egg roll

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Rain clouds auspiciously parted, A-list guests including the Easter Bunny and Beyonce were on hand and first dogs Sunny and Bo obliged for selfies as U.S. President Barack...

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Universal LA theme park hopes fans buy into new 'Harry Potter' world

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - From the cobblestone alleyways to the snow-capped roofs, fans of "Harry Potter" will be able to immerse themselves into a new "Wizarding World" attraction at Universal Studios...

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Drawn by Korean TV drama, 4,500 Chinese tourists gather for chicken, beer

INCHEON, South Korea (Reuters) - About 4,500 employees of a Chinese cosmetics firm visiting South Korea as the largest tour group to arrive in the country by plane sat down on Monday for a dinner of...

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Mother Angelica, nun who founded cable tv religious network, dead at 92

(Reuters) - Mother Angelica, a soft-spoken nun who dispensed homespun religious and life advice for years on television after founding a cable network, died on Sunday aged 92, officials and religious...

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Fans line up hours ahead of Rolling Stones debut show in Cuba

HAVANA (Reuters) - Long-denied Cuban fans of the Rolling Stones and foreigners who made a special trip lined up outside a Havana sports complex hours before the gates were to open on Friday for a...

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Beatle Ringo Starr's childhood Liverpool home bought by fan

LONDON (Reuters) - A Beatles fan, who already owns two other properties linked to the band, has bought the small terraced Liverpool house where the pop group's drummer Ringo Starr grew up.

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Beijing extends leave for new parents as China hopes for more children

BEIJING (Reuters) - Authorities in China's capital will extend leave from work for new mothers and fathers, state media reported on Friday, in what appeared to be the latest incentive to encourage...

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'Pharaoh', the king of Cairo strongmen

CAIRO (Reuters) - In Cairo's Imbaba, strongman Karim Hussein pulls trucks with his teeth, swallows nails and casually steps on mounds of broken glass, offering one of the few forms of live...

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Catholics in Philippines mark Holy Week with self-flagellation ritual

MABALACAT CITY, Philippines - Catholics in the northern Philippine province of Pampanga, many bare-chested and hooded,  practice self-flagellation in the sweltering heat in the week before Easter to...

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Sikhs display horsemanship, bravery at Hola Mohalla festival

Thousands of Sikhs celebrated the annual spring festival of Hola Mohalla on Thursday with displays of horsemanship, bravery and sword fights.

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U2's The Edge shows off signature guitar

U2 guitarist The Edge has teamed up with guitar maker Fender to create a signature model -- The Edge Stratocaster.

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Jews of world's first ghetto reflect on Europe's migrant crisis

VENICE (Reuters) - The Jews of the world's first ghetto, which marks its 500th anniversary this month, have two words of advice for Europe as it struggles to deal with mass migration: patience and...

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Love is in the armpit at New York's Smell Dating

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Love at first whiff is the idea behind Smell Dating, a New York matchmaking service that promises to help single people sniff out their perfect match by breathing in the odors...

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Radar scan of Shakespeare's grave confirms skull apparently missing

LONDON (Reuters) - Shakespeare's skull is likely missing from his grave, an archaeologist has concluded, confirming rumors which have swirled for years about grave-robbers and adding to the mystery...

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Several months and millions of dollars later, New Zealand votes to keep its flag

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - New Zealand voted on Thursday to retain its national flag, which includes the Union Jack of its former colonial ruler, after a 16-month exercise that cost taxpayers NZ$26...

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Soft shoe diplomacy: Obama dances the tango at Argentine state dinner

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama has made headlines for unexpectedly crooning a song or two in public since coming to the White House. Now he can add dancing the tango to his list of...

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'Sistine Chapel of the Middle Ages' reopens to public in Rome

ROME (Reuters) - A sixth-century church boasting a rare collection of early Christian art is reopening to the public in Rome after a restoration that took more than 30 years.

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Rolling Stones on YouTube invite Cubans to free concert

HAVANA (Reuters) - The Rolling Stones are welcoming Cubans to their free concert on Friday with Mick Jagger speaking Spanish in a video on YouTube, though few are likely to see it, given Cuba's scant...

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New York auctions paint somber picture of Chinese art buyers

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Along with oil, stocks and steel, China's roiling economic slowdown has deflated the buoyancy of another sector: the Asian Art market.

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On Alexandria's Fouad Street, some have a longing for the elegant past

ALEXANDRIA, Egypt (Reuters) - Along Fouad Street, a Costa coffee shop near old buildings with Italian and French architecture reminds Egyptians that commercial ventures threaten to erase traces of...

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Britain's Prince Harry plays volleyball in Nepal

KATHMANDU - Continuing his trip to Nepal, Britain's Prince Harry played volleyball on Tuesday as part of a visit to a village in the Lamjung area.

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Armani says to stop using animal fur in all his products

MILAN (Reuters) - Giorgio Armani will stop using fur in all his products since technological progress means there is no longer any justification for cruelty to animals, the renowned Italian fashion...

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Hello Kitty-themed train departs from Taiwan station

Lucky fans of Hello Kitty were among the first to ride a train themed after the iconic fictional character on its inaugural run in Taiwan on Monday.

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Pakistan's first women-only rickshaw service struggles after just a year

LAHORE, Pakistan (Reuters) - Pakistan's first women-only rickshaw service was meant to provide its staff with a new way of gaining financial independence and its passengers with the chance of a ride...

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Monaco royal family hosts glitzy charity event

The Monaco royal family hosted the Rose Ball on Saturday, a glitzy annual charity event.

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Rookie Iditarod musher battles to last-place finish in Alaska race

SEATTLE (Reuters) - A 32-year-old former Bible camp cook who lost her home in a wildfire last summer toughed out a last-place finish in Alaska's punishing Iditarod sled-dog race after surviving sled...

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First-month Oregon pot sales tax receipts far exceed projections

PORTLAND, Ore. (Reuters) - The first month of taxable commercial sales of recreational marijuana in Oregon generated nearly $3.5 million in tax revenues, far exceeding projections, the state...

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Ready, set and run up the Eiffel Tower

Paris - The winner of the Eiffel Tower race ran up 1,665 steps of the Paris landmark in 7 minutes and 48 seconds on Thursday, beating his timing from last year.

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Becoming a drag queen: 101

NEW YORK - - When Justin Honard turns into drag queen Alaska, the process is more than just applying makeup, working hairstyles and putting together outfits.

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'Kon-Tiki 2' expedition cut short as rafters call navy for rescue

SANTIAGO (Reuters) - An attempt to make a return journey by balsa raft across the Pacific Ocean from South America to Easter Island has been cut short after bad weather forced the expedition to call...

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U.S. general Lori Robinson to become first woman to lead combatant command

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama will name the first woman to head a U.S. combatant command, selecting Air Force General Lori Robinson as the next head of the military's Northern...

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Brazil’s silver surfers leave aches beneath waves

(Reuters) - When work is up, surf is up in Brazil. A group of pensioners take to the waves in keep-fit, keep-young surfing lessons that aim to show age is just a number.

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Toby, two-nosed dog, rescued in California

LOS ANGELES - - Toby, a two-nosed dog from California, has escaped being put down, finding a new home alongside other dogs with unusual physical attributes.

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Fried cow's brains? - Italy's historic cities push local cuisine, produce

ROME (Reuters) - Fried cow's brains might not be to everyone's taste, but more people may sample the Florentine specialty now that Italy's art capital has ordered food outlets in the city center to...

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Zumba makes waves in Afghanistan, where dance once forbidden

KABUL (Reuters) - In a secluded gym in the Afghan capital, young women sway and jump in time with music in a Zumba dance fitness class, a new arrival in a country where dancing was once forbidden...

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'Eddie the Eagle' lands safely in London

LONDON - - The true story of unlikely sportsman Michael "Eddie" Edwards, who became the first competitor to represent Great Britain in Olympic ski jumping, comes to cinema screens in feel-good comedy...

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New lion enclosure at London Zoo gets royal opening

London - Britain's Queen Elizabeth opened a new enclosure at London Zoo on Thursday that four Asiatic lions, one male and three females, will call home.

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Dog believed lost at sea turns up on island used by U.S. Navy

(Reuters) - A dog believed to have drowned after disappearing from a fishing boat off the California coast five weeks ago was found on an island owned by the U.S. Navy and will be reunited with her...

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California man gives $2 million aluminum penny back to U.S. Mint

SAN DIEGO (Reuters) - A San Diego man who inherited from his father a 1974 aluminum penny valued at $2 million has surrendered it to the U.S. Mint to settle a lawsuit over ownership of the rare coin,...

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Tuskegee Airman reflects on all-black unit's founding 75 years ago

BETHESDA, Md. (Reuters) - Seventy-five years after the founding of the all-black Tuskegee Airmen, one of its most decorated pilots says the pioneering unit showed African-Americans' fighting worth at...

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U.N. envoy Jolie visits camp in Lesbos

LESBOS, Greece - - UN special envoy Angelina Jolie visited a refugee and migrant camp on the Aegean island of Lesbos on Thursday on her second day of a trip to Greece.

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Mural in the muck tells story of Rome on riverside wall

ROME (Reuters) - Silhouettes of emperors, popes and artists are slowly emerging on the grimy walls of the Tiber River in Rome, part of an epic mural that tells the history of the Eternal City.

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Germany's top Nazi hunter to keep up chase for another decade

BERLIN (Reuters) - Undeterred by dwindling numbers of living suspects, Germany's top Nazi hunter is determined to keep tracking down criminals involved in Hitler's murder machine for another...

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In sweet-toothed Britain, sugary soda levy may have limited impact

LONDON (Reuters) - With its surprise move to tax sugary drinks, Britain joins several Western countries battling a key suspect in rising rates of obesity and diabetes, but health and industry experts...

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Egypt finds new clues that Queen Nefertiti may lie buried behind Tut's tomb

CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt has unearthed further evidence that a secret chamber, believed by some to be the lost burial site of Queen Nefertiti, may lie behind King Tutankhamun's tomb, Egypt's...

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Turkana's semi-nomadic life amid livestock in Kenya

(Reuters) - On a hot day in January, tribesmen armed with Kalashnikov and G3 assault rifles bring their cattle to water in the dry Turkana region of northern Kenya. The men herd cattle, sheep and...

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SeaWorld says to stop breeding killer whales

(Reuters) - Theme park operator SeaWorld Entertainment Inc said on Thursday it would stop breeding killer whales, and those currently at its parks would be the last.

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New York mayor marching in St. Pat's parade after gay rights uproar

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York City's annual St. Patrick's Day Parade turns fashionable Fifth Avenue green on Thursday, and Mayor Bill de Blasio will end his two-year boycott over gay rights and march...

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Pop stars to the rescue of Turkey's battered tourism industry?

BERLIN (Reuters) - Turkish tourism officials hit by plummeting Russian bookings and grim urban bombings are hoping that Madonna, Justin Bieber or Jennifer Lopez can help revive business along their...

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Jolie visits Greece to highlight Mideast refugee plight

PIRAEUS, Greece (Reuters) - A day after visiting refugees in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley, U.N. special envoy Angelina Jolie traveled to Greece on Wednesday to highlight the plight of war-fleeing families...

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Ashley Judd appointed U.N. Goodwill Ambassador

    UNITED NATIONS - Hollywood actress Ashley Judd has been appointed a goodwill ambassador for the U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA).

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Denmark world's happiest country, Burundi least: new report shows

ROME (Reuters) - Denmark overtook Switzerland as the world's happiest place, according to a report on Wednesday that urged nations regardless of wealth to tackle inequality and protect the...

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Newborn seal draws visitors at Japanese aquarium

KAMOGAWA, Japan - A newborn baby seal has won over a legion of fans, wriggling its way to the hearts of visitors at an aquarium in Japan.

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In muddy Bekaa Valley camp, Jolie urges support for Syria refugees

SAADNAYEL, Lebanon (Reuters) - U.N. special envoy Angelina Jolie urged world powers on Tuesday to do more to end Syria's five-year war and help the millions who have fled the conflict, as she visited...

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Largest blue diamond to appear at auction

LONDON - The largest oval fancy vivid diamond ever to appear at auction is headed for sale in Hong Kong next month, where it is expected to fetch $30 million - $35 million.

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Squirrels show flexibility and persistence when foraging

University of Exeter researchers have found that grey squirrels foraging for food are happy to take their time if it means getting a more nourishing meal.

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George and Amal Clooney meet Syrian refugees in Berlin

BERLIN - Hollywood actor George Clooney and his international human rights lawyer wife Amal met with Syrian refugee families in Germany, a video of which was released on Tuesday.

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"My life is safe now," refugee students say at elite Paris university

PARIS (Reuters) - Twenty-seven year old Minawar Ahmadzai slept in a park during his first few weeks in Paris. Three months on, the Afghani asylum-seeker is studying at one of France's most...

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Syrian refugee chickpeas bloom in Lebanon

BEKAA VALLEY, Lebanon (Reuters) - In a humid plastic tent in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley, a Syrian scientist handles the leaves of the chickpeas, lentils and wheat that may one day help fill neighboring...

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Queen Elizabeth presides over Commonwealth for 'all walks of life'

LONDON - Britain's Queen Elizabeth has called on people in the Commonwealth to support "those in need and those who feel excluded in all walks of life" as its members marked this year's Commonwealth...

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Party's over as Britain drops nightclub entrance fees from inflation basket

LONDON (Reuters) - A decline in Britain's clubbing scene has prompted the statistics agency to drop nightclub entrance charges from the basket of goods and services it uses to calculate inflation --...

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Lesbian hip-hop duo from Havana fights homophobia with music

LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - According to Odaymara Cuesta from the lesbian Cuban hip-hop band Krudas Cubensi, there's a gay person in every family in Cuba.

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Repeat champ leads pack as Alaska's Iditarod dog sled race enters home stretch

JUNEAU, Alaska (Reuters) - One musher in Alaska's grueling sled-dog race appears to stand between Dallas Seavey's third consecutive Iditarod title and a painful second place finish – his father,...

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Bangkok slaps curfew on world's biggest water fight amid drought

BANGKOK (Reuters) - The Thai capital will impose a curfew during Thailand's annual water festival next month to show solidarity with farmers hit by drought, city officials said on Tuesday.

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Broken baby food jar leads to Sweden's first unstaffed grocery store

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Parenthood may be hard but those challenges can also lead to new ideas. Ask Robert Ilijason, for whom a broken baby food jar eventually led to the opening of Sweden's first...

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Syrian children's memories of home fade in Jordan camp

ZAATARI CAMP, Jordan (Reuters) - Over five years of Syria's civil war, tents have given way to sturdy shacks in Jordan's Zaatari Refugee Camp, dusty tracks have been paved, acquiring names, and a...

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Australian police officer adopts baby kangaroo

Cuejo, a baby kangaroo rescued in remote Western Australia and adopted by a police officer, has won a legion of fans after a video emerged of the joey with his new parent.

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West Highland Terrier wins Best in Show at UK's Crufts

A West Highland Terrier named "Geordie Girl" won "Best in Show" at the 2016 Crufts dog show on Sunday. 

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Vermont legislature on track to be first in U.S. to legalize marijuana

MONTPELIER, Vt. (Reuters) - Liberal-leaning Vermont could become the first U.S. state to legalize recreational marijuana use through legislation, rather than by voter initiative, in a move that...

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Broken baby food jar leads to Sweden's first unstaffed grocery store

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Parenthood may be hard but those challenges can also lead to new ideas. Ask Robert Ilijason, for whom a broken baby food jar eventually led to the opening of Sweden's first...

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Nordic pulp firms see future in turning birch trees into fashion

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Nordic pulp makers are developing clean ways to turn birch and pine trees into clothes or sofa covers to help revive their industry and meet demand from fashion and furniture...

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Online harassment must be met head-on: tech summit panel

AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - Online harassment and sexism is demeaning women and can no longer be brushed aside as an ugly side of social media and the gaming industry if they are to thrive, panelists...

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As anti-Islam tone rises in U.S., Muslim women learn self-defense

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Some 20 women in Islamic hijab worried by rising anti-Muslim rhetoric in the United States watched on a recent night as their self-defense instructor showed them how to punch a...

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Brazil's mothers left to raise microcephaly babies alone

CAMPINA GRANDE, Brazil (Reuters) - Ianka Barbosa was 7 months pregnant when she found out her child had microcephaly. Before the baby was even born, the father had gone.

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Bulgaria markets Black Sea resorts as tourists seek safe haven

BERLIN (Reuters) - Bulgaria is showing off its Black Sea resorts and lush nature at this year's ITB travel trade fair in hopes of attracting tourists scared away from formerly popular destinations...

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Lanvin appoints Bouchra Jarrar as new designer to replace Elbaz

PARIS (Reuters) - Lanvin said it had appointed Bouchra Jarrar as its new designer five months after the abrupt dismissal of Alber Elbaz caused uncertainty about the future of France's oldest fashion...

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Graffiti artwork of drowned Aylan highlights refugees' plight

(Reuters) - A huge graffiti image of toddler Aylan Kurdi, pictures of whose dead body stirred global sympathy for migrants fleeing war and poverty, confronts motorists, pedestrians and river traveler...

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See now, buy when? Catwalk-to-shop retail model divides brands

MILAN/LONDON (Reuters) - With minutes until show time, a group of seamstresses are adding the final touches to designer Ermanno Scervino's latest creations to be unveiled on the catwalk.

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Louvre and Rijksmuseum to share Rembrandts bought from Rothschild

PARIS (Reuters) - A pair of Rembrandt portraits owned privately for more than 130 years went on public display in Paris on Thursday, bought under shared ownership by the French capital's Louvre...

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Rolling Stones' Mick Jagger strolls through Bogota

BOGOTA - - The Rolling Stones front man Mick Jagger took a stroll through downtown Bogota ahead of a Thursday concert in the Colombian capital.

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Idomeni camp 'big violation of human rights': Ai Weiwei

IDOMENI, Greece - - Chinese artist Ai Weiwei visited Greek border camp Idomeni on Wednesday, where some 14,000 people are stranded following new border restrictions along the Balkan migration...

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Three-time champion Seavey in lead halfway through Alaska's Iditarod

JUNEAU, Alaska (Reuters) - Three-time Iditarod sled-dog racing champion Dallas Seavey became the first to reach the halfway point of the near 1,000-mile race on Wednesday.

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Neapolitans vow to keep Church's hands off saint's 'treasure'

NAPLES, Italy (Reuters) - A new revolt against church and state is gripping Naples, the Italian city that drove out Spain's religious inquisitors in the 1500s. This one is about treasure.

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Paris Fashion Week wraps up with sporty, edgy leather from Vuitton

PARIS (Reuters) - French luxury label Louis Vuitton wrapped up Paris Fashion Week on Wednesday with sporty, edgy looks for next winter, offering plenty of leather for outerwear, trousers and dresses.

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Africa's 'Little Rome' survives conflict, seeks U.N. accolade

ASMARA (Reuters) - In an often forgotten corner of the Horn of Africa, Eritrea's capital boasts one of the world’s finest collections of early 20th century architecture and the authorities want it...

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Seeing no end to power crisis, Gazans turn to the sun

GAZA (Reuters) - Faced with power blackouts lasting anything from eight to 12 hours a day, residents and businesses in Gaza are increasingly turning to the sun to supply their energy needs.

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Valentino takes fashionistas to the ballet at Paris show

PARIS - Italian fashion house Valentino nodded to the ballet at its Paris Fashion Week show on Tuesday, presenting plenty of flowing, pale pink dresses for women's wardrobes next winter.

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Model Naomi Campbell receives award on International Women's Day

Model Naomi Campbell receives the "Women Leading Change" award on Tuesday from former Israeli President Shimon Peres at an event to mark International Women's Day at the Peres Center for Peace in...

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U.S. women push back against stigma, cost of menstruation

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. (Reuters) - Sixteen-year-old Emma Joy and her younger sister Quinn recently spent an evening stuffing bags with a full year's supply of tampons or sanitary pads for women who often...

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Combat boots and bowlers: Chanel women dress for 'not that sweet' world

PARIS (Reuters) - Veteran Chanel designer, Karl Lagerfeld, sent his models down the catwalk on Tuesday ready for a world that is "not that sweet" in black leather combat-style boots with hard and...

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Snow-laden roofs, angry dogs: a chimney sweep’s life in Bosnia

BRCKO, Bosnia (Reuters) - Dajana Djuric, believed to be the only female chimney sweep in Bosnia and Herzegovina, has to contend with perilous roofs in the depth of winter and the occasional vicious...

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For Palestinian women, abortion can mean lies, jail or worse

RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) - "Fatma", a mother of twins with a demanding workload, was distraught to discover she was pregnant again. Her doctor agreed to perform an abortion, she says, only after...

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Prayers, tourism for solar eclipse in Southeast Asia

    Tourists have flocked to Indonesia's Palembang, all eager to see a solar eclipse on early Wednesday morning.

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French-American couple win UK's Wife Carrying Race, again

DORKING, England - A French-American couple won England's Wife-Carrying Race on Sunday for the second consecutive year and set a new record for the 380 meter (yard) course.

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Amid repression, art scene in Thailand's capital blooms

BANGKOK (Reuters) - On a wall in a northern suburb of Bangkok "Asin Acid" puts the finishing touches to a spray-painted picture of a colorful giant chicken holding a broken loudspeaker.

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Shipwreck found off North Carolina believed to be Civil War-era steamer

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (Reuters) - A shipwreck discovered off the coast of North Carolina is likely one of three Confederate blockade runners known to have been lost in the area, archaeologists said on...

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Westwood bends gender rules at Paris Fashion Week

PARIS - - Britain's dame of fashion, Vivienne Westwood, presented a unisex collection at Paris Fashion Week at the weekend, with her designer label rebranded to include her husband's name.

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Signature looks evolve at Stella McCartney's Paris show

PARIS (Reuters) - British designer Stella McCartney offered a new take on her brand's signature looks at Paris Fashion Week on Monday, presenting a selection of puffa jackets and pleated dresses for...

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Starving animals up for sale at Gaza zoo

GAZA (Reuters) - A Gaza zoo owner is putting the last of his starving animals up for sale.

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Conch shell blowing contest takes place in Florida

More than 30 participants took part in a decades old conch shell blowing contest in Key West, Florida at the weekend, seeking to make music with the large seashell.

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Slovenian comedian rocks with Putin parody; Trump to follow

LJUBLJANA (Reuters) - Two weeks after posting his latest parody on YouTube - a satire on Russian President Vladimir Putin's machismo - Slovenian actor and comedian Klemen Slakonja has had more hits...

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Overnight stays in Swiss hotels show worst January since 1998

ZURICH (Reuters) - Swiss hotels posted 6.8 percent fewer overnight stays in January as a lack of snow kept travelers away from Switzerland's ski resorts and mountain getaways, official data showed on...

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Gaza marvels at new Samson

GAZA (Reuters) - A modern-day Samson is performing feats of physical strength in Gaza.

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Dog-sled teams set off on Alaska's 1,000-mile Iditarod race

JUNEAU, Alaska (Reuters) - Mushers and dog sled teams from around the world embark on the first leg of Alaska's grueling Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Sunday, starting a nearly 1,000-mile (1,609...

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Petite Noir hopes to spread 'positivity' with music

LONDON - South African singer-songwriter Petite Noir says he hopes to spread positivity with his music as he goes on tour in Europe.

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Iditarod veteran keeps on mushing despite devastating Alaska wildfire

JUNEAU, Alaska (Reuters) - Dee Dee Jonrowe, who will start the grueling Iditarod sled-dog race through Alaska's wilderness for the 34th time this year, has long been known as a survivor, having...

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Newly-weds Rupert Murdoch and Jerry Hall blessed in London church

LONDON (Reuters) - Media mogul Rupert Murdoch and actress and model Jerry Hall celebrated their marriage with a blessing service on Saturday at St. Bride's church on London's Fleet Street, the...

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Alaska's famed Iditarod race to start along shorter ceremonial route

JUNEAU, Alaska (Reuters) - Alaska's famed sled-dog race is set to get underway on Saturday when dozens of mushers and dog teams from around the world begin their near 1,000-mile (1,600-km) journey...

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Italy seeks UNESCO recognition for Neapolitan pizza making

ROME (Reuters) - Italy on Friday put forward the Neapolitan pizza as a candidate for inclusion in UNESCO'S cultural heritage list for next year.

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Dior's dark looks, Miyake's 'Beyond' pleats on offer at Paris fashion

PARIS (Reuters) - Designer labels presented an array of offerings for women's winter wardrobes at Paris Fashion Week on Friday, with Dior mixing dark silhouettes with brighter prints and Issey Miyake...

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'Happiest man in world' Rupert Murdoch marries ex-model Jerry Hall

LONDON (Reuters) - Rupert Murdoch wed former supermodel Jerry Hall in a low-key ceremony in central London on Friday, the fourth marriage for the media mogul.

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Floating school in Lagos lagoon brings hope to Nigerian slum-on-stilts

LAGOS (Reuters) - Makoko, a vast slum of houses on stilts in a Lagos lagoon, now boasts a new school - pyramid-shaped, floating and capable of withstanding the waterways' extreme weather, it is a...

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Artist sets off smoke bombs at London Somerset House

LONDON - Italian artist Filippo Minelli set off colorful smoke bombs in the courtyard of London's Somerset House on Wednesday as part of a new exhibition on street art.

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Giant pandas get official welcome in new South Korean home

INCHEON, South Korea - Giant pandas, Ai Bao and Le Bao, received an official welcome at Incheon International airport on Thursday after their arrival from China.

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Rare Ty Cobb tobacco-brand baseball cards found

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Seven rare, identical Ty Cobb baseball cards more than a century old were found weeks ago inside a torn paper bag on the floor a house, marking one of the most remarkable...

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Botticelli Reimagined: London exhibition explores painter's influence

LONDON (Reuters) - An exhibition dedicated to Sandro Botticelli opens in London this week, looking at how the 15th century Italian painter influenced artists and designers though the ages.

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'Twin Peaks' meets gummy candy at Manish Arora's Paris show

    PARIS - Indian designer Manish Arora presented a vibrant and colorful collection at Paris Fashion Week on Thursday, drawing inspiration from murder mystery television series "Twin Peaks" and...

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Slip sliding away, atop a Los Angeles skyscraper

The owner of a 73-floor tower in Los Angeles that ranks as the tallest building in the United States west of the Mississippi River is building a glass slide to hang off the exterior of the structure,...

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Rochas' winter garden blooms at Paris Fashion Week

    PARIS - Silk and velvet florals bloomed on the Rochas catwalk at Paris Fashion Week on Wednesday with the designer label showcasing a winter garden-like womenswear collection for next...

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The Met Breuer in New York showcases modern, contemporary art

NEW YORK - The Met Breuer, a new extension of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, gave a preview of its opening exhibition which features works by artists ranging from Titian and Leonardo da Vinci to...

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Israeli couple bringing home biblical sheep from Canada

TORONTO (Reuters) - A breed of sheep believed to have been raised by the Jewish patriarch Jacob may soon be brought to Israel, its Biblical homeland, after an Israeli couple gathered a herd in Canada...

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Former British chief rabbi wins $1.5 million Templeton Prize

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's former Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks has won the 2016 Templeton Prize, worth 1.1 million pounds ($1.5 million), for his efforts to help steer young people away from the...

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Palestinians teach blind students English via music

HEBRON, West Bank (Reuters) - Palestinian students at an elementary school for the blind in the West Bank are learning English through songs.

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Yosemite changes famous names; Ahwahnee sign stolen amid legal fight

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Visitors to Yosemite National Park were greeted with an unfamiliar name for the park's most iconic hotel on Tuesday as a bitter legal battle over its trademarked name raged...

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Italy court lets lesbian couple adopt each other's children

ROME (Reuters) - A court in Rome has allowed a lesbian couple to adopt each other's children, their lawyer said on Tuesday, less than a week after the Italian parliament threw out a bid to give gays...

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Rolling Stones announce historic free concert in Havana March 25

HAVANA (Reuters) - The Rolling Stones will perform a free outdoor concert in Havana on March 25, the band announced on Tuesday, a milestone event in a country where the communist government once...

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Bold, colourful prints kick off Paris Fashion Week

PARIS (Reuters) - After fashion weeks in New York, London and Milan, Paris stepped onto the seasonal catwalk on Tuesday, with Dutch designer Liselore Frowijn among the first to present her fall...

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