In Thailand, a white elephant fit for a new king

A large portrait of Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn dominates one end of the open-air enclosure where an elephant known as Plai Ekachai starts his day at a conservation center in the country's...

K-Pop stardom lures Japanese youth to Korea despite diplomatic chill

Yuuka Hasumi put high school in Japan on hold and flew to South Korea in February to try her chances at becoming a K-pop star, even if that means long hours of vocal and dance training, no privacy,...

Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue to feature model in burkini

Somali-American Halima Aden will appear in Sports Illustrated's popular swimsuit issue as the first model in the magazine to wear a hijab and burkini, the magazine said on its website.

Amid deprivation, Gaza youth skate in search of fun

At a Gaza beachfront skatepark, Palestinian youngsters on skateboards and rollerblades zip around curves and jump over concrete obstacles to the delight of onlookers.

Dior lights up Marrakech with fashion show and floating candles

Around an enormous outdoor runway lit with dozens of floating tealights, French label Christian Dior crisscrossed cultures and continents at its first fashion show in Morocco on Monday, with beaded...

World's largest falcon hospital cares for Emirati heritage

When a falcon in the Gulf Arab countries falls sick, the owners of these much-loved and expensive hunting birds know where to take them: The world's largest falcon hospital, in Abu Dhabi.

At Amboise, Leonardo's last years paint a picture of Franco-Italian harmony

Commemorations for Leonardo da Vinci's 500th anniversary begin this week in Amboise, in the Loire Valley, with France and Italy setting aside recent tensions to honor the memory of the Renaissance...

Giant pandas set to leave San Diego Zoo after two-decade loan from China

The last two giant pandas living at the San Diego Zoo in California will be sent to the People's Republic of China this spring, ending a more than two-decade conservation program that helped bring...

'Star Wars' Darth Vader costume could go for $2 million at auction

A man who made appearances as Darth Vader at film premieres and fan conventions will sell a costume created in 1979 by the "Star Wars" design team at an auction of classic movie memorabilia next...

Oldest human footprint found in the Americas confirmed in Chile: researcher

A 15,600-year old footprint discovered in southern Chile is believed to be the oldest ever found in the Americas, according to researchers.

'Superfan' of Japan's royals has followed them for decades

Wherever Japan's royals go, there too goes Fumiko Shirataki: in summer heat and winter cold, to the ocean and to the mountains.

Lucara finds largest uncut diamond in recent history in Botswana mine

Lucara Diamond Corp has unearthed the largest uncut diamond in recent history in its Karowe mine in Botswana, the Canadian company said on Thursday, beating its own record discovery from November...

As war rages, Tripoli art gallery opens in rundown old city

As a new war reached the Libyan capital, businessman Mustafa Iskandar opened an art gallery and cultural center, hoping to draw attention to a long-neglected old city in need of revival.