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Thousands expected as Vespa celebrates 80 years in Rome

An icon for the Italian way of life, the Vespa is celebrating its 80th birthday with thousands of drivers expected to zip around Rome in the legendary scooters on Saturday.

Budapest Pride to push for equality after reversed ban

Droves are expected to attend Saturday's Budapest Pride march in scorching hot temperatures, seen as a "signal" after last year's ban ordered under nationalist Viktor Orban prompted record attendance.

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'Inhumane': Gaza flotilla activists recount Israeli detention ordeal

Cracked bones, humiliation, sexual assault: Pro-Palestinian activists recounted the abuse they say they suffered from Israeli authorities for taking part in a Gaza-bound aid flotilla last month, which has sparked multiple investigations and international outcry.

'GTA VI' preorders mark first test for biggest game of 2026

"Grand Theft Auto VI" could start breaking records months ahead of the game's November 19 release, as preorders open at midnight on Thursday for the long-awaited new instalment in the rollicking gangster saga.

London police to extend use of live facial recognition, drones

London's Metropolitan Police force said Wednesday it will expand the use of drones, artificial intelligence and live facial recognition technology, which has been criticised by rights campaigners.

Airbus to inspect 16 A380s after cracks found on plane wings

Airbus on Tuesday said it would inspect 16 A380 planes, five of them immediately, after cracks were found in a key wing component on aircraft used by the Emirates and Qantas airlines.

US Supreme Court rules against man whose dreadlocks were cut off in prison

The US Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that a devout Rastafarian whose knee-length dreadlocks were forcibly shorn in jail cannot sue state prison officials for damages.

Shootout traps tourists at Rio sunrise lookout

Dozens of tourists were trapped Tuesday at a popular sunrise viewpoint in Rio de Janeiro as a gun battle broke out between police and drug traffickers, in the second such incident to affect visitors to the city this year.

Why the heat is wreaking havoc on Europe's trains

The extreme heat baking much of Europe this week is exposing the limits of rail infrastructure made during cooler times, leading to delays and cancellations along with warnings to travellers with health problems to avoid trips if possible.

Kenya police violence victims say compensation promise a 'smokescreen'

Two years ago, Gen-Z protests marked a new era for Kenyan politics, but led to dozens of deaths, and devastated families are unimpressed with government promises of compensation.

Shooting in Montreal, Canada leaves three dead including suspect

A midday shooting in Montreal killed three people on Monday, including a police officer, a civilian, and the alleged gunman, triggering rare alarm in the Canadian city.

Qatar gas plant blast kills 13, injures dozens

A huge blast at a Qatar gas hub killed 13 people and injured 66 others, the state's energy minister said on Monday, providing an update on one of the deadliest ever accidents at a Gulf energy facility.

Rare Philippine school shooting kills three teens, wounds seven

Two students opened fire Monday inside a school in the central Philippines, a rare campus shooting that killed three teens and wounded seven others, police said.

Kenya labour minister accused over Russian forced recruitment

Erastus Mundia left Kenya on a work programme his government had arranged with Russia. He died on the battlefield in Ukraine, and his family holds Labour Minister Alfred Mutua responsible.

J-Bay: S.Africa's surf mecca missing out on the global tour

The celebrated waves off Jeffreys Bay secured the town a spot on a world surfing tour that for years drew the sport's biggest names to this remote corner of South Africa almost every July.

Slimy beans: Japanese natto disgusts and delights the world

Sticky, translucent strings dangle from Wesley Smith's chopsticks as the American tourist relishes his natto, the loved-and-hated Japanese fermented soybean superfood going global one slimy mouthful at a time.

Swiss US-Iran talks venue a playground of world leaders, movie stars

The uber-plush Burgenstock resort perched high above Switzerland's Lake Lucerne -- the dramatic setting for Sunday's US-Iran talks -- is well-accustomed to hosting world leaders, movie icons and peace negotiations.

Los Angeles under state of emergency due to warehouse fire

Los Angeles was under a state of emergency Saturday as fire crews fought a days-long battle against a stubborn warehouse blaze that has filled the air with acrid black smoke.

Counter-terror cops probe suspected anti-Muslim 'attacks' in Edinburgh

Scottish police said Saturday counter-terrorism officers were investigating several attacks the previous evening in Edinburgh in which five men were wounded, suspected anti-Muslim incidents condemned by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Heavy metal: French town hosts medieval combat cage fights

A French town on Saturday hosted a special event inside a hexagonal cage normally used for mixed martial arts: duels between fully armoured warriors wielding medieval weapons.

Funeral for art giant David Hockney already taken place: publicist

The funeral for David Hockney, the acclaimed British artist who died just over a week ago, has already been held in strict privacy, his publicist said Saturday.

Court bans Spanish PM's wife from leaving country

A Spanish court has ordered the wife of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Begona Gomez, to stand trial by jury for corruption and banned her from leaving the country, according to a court order released Saturday.

Portugal's unofficial exorcism fever worries Church

A woman closes her eyes as a young man dressed as a priest places both hands on her forehead. Moments later, she falls to the floor in front of dozens of worshippers.

Deadly Philippines quake turns seabed into shore

Arsenio Butil Jr. fell to his knees and began to pray when last week's deadly 7.8-magnitude earthquake began shaking his home on the coast of the southern Philippines.

Quarantine over for almost all hantavirus ship passengers, crew

Almost all the passengers and crew of the cruise ship hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak who had to quarantine in the Netherlands are now allowed to return home, the WHO chief said Thursday.

Wahi granted Canadian visa for Ivory Coast World Cup match after delay

Ivory Coast forward Elye Wahi has been authorised to enter Canada for his country's second World Cup match against Germany, after initially being denied a visa over reported spot-fixing allegations, a source close to the player said on Thursday.

Graft probe into Spanish ex-PM expanded to daughters

A judge investigating former Spanish prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero for alleged influence peddling has expanded his politically explosive probe to the Socialist's daughters, a court said on Thursday.

Iran war leaves Islamic republic intact and opponents divided

The Iran war was cast as a catalyst for the Islamic republic's collapse, but months of fighting failed to dislodge the clerical leadership and left its opponents out in the cold.

Grand Theft Auto VI presales to begin next week

Pre-sales of Grand Theft Auto VI, the feverishly anticipated video game release, will begin on June 25, Rockstar Games said on Thursday.

Greenland sees wildfires earlier in the year

Greenland has recently been hit by localised wildfires, a rarity at this time of year that could be explained by global warming, a researcher at the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources said Thursday.

South Korean lawmakers launch probe into ballot paper shortages

South Korea's parliament on Thursday gave the green light for an investigation into ballot paper shortages that disrupted municipal elections this month and fuelled political tensions.

Why are Kenyan kids burning schools and killing their classmates?

Almost 50 fires have ripped through Kenyan schools this year, 16 schoolgirls have died, and more than 100 schools have temporarily closed. Everyone knows there is a crisis, but few have solutions.

Pain-riddled South Korean man fights for right to die

In excruciating pain from a debilitating neurological condition, South Korean Lee Myung-shik had reluctantly given up on assisted death in Switzerland when he learned his daughter risked prison time if she helped him.

Ex-OPEC president Diezani Alison-Madueke cleared of bribery in UK trial

The first woman president of OPEC and Nigeria's former oil minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, was cleared of bribery charges in a UK trial Wednesday, her defence lawyers said in a statement.

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