A dying business: family graves in Japan
Every once in a while, Kumiko Kano meets a group of people with whom she has decided to spend eternity, one of a growing number in Japan who are shunning the expense and commitment of a traditional family grave.
French theme park recreates 'Little Prince' universe
A theme park inspired by Antoine de Saint-Exupery's timeless classic "The Little Prince" opened this week in France, giving visitors a chance to recall the author's claim that "all grown-ups were children first".
US-based scientist makes potent version of H1N1 flu
A US-based Japanese scientist said he has succeeded in engineering a version of the so-called swine flu virus that would be able to evade the human immune system.
03 July 2014 10:50
Indian minister calls for Goa beach bikini ban
A minister in India's resort state of Goa has drawn ridicule by saying women in bikinis should be banned from beaches and girls in short dresses should not visit pubs.
03 July 2014 01:02
Caribbean corals could vanish over next 20 years: report
Caribbean coral reefs could disappear within 20 years as overfishing has all but wiped out the fish that feast on coral-smothering algae, the UN and an international conservation watchdog warned.
Sri Lanka delays digging up suspected Muslim mass grave
A magistrate has postponed Tuesday's scheduled start of an operation to exhume a suspected mass war grave on Sri Lanka's east coast after police said they needed more preparation time, an official said.
01 July 2014 23:34
Fendi unveils suspended walkway over Rome's Trevi fountain
Fashion house Fendi kicked off the restoration of Rome's famed Trevi Fountain, unveiling a transparent suspended walkway which will give tourists a whole new vantage point of the historic monument.
01 July 2014 15:44
Tens of thousands turn out for Istanbul Gay Pride parade
Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Istanbul for the city's Gay Pride parade, an event that has taken on added political significance a year on from massive anti-government protests.
NY homeless angry at China tycoon's 'publicity stunt'
A three-course lunch hosted by an eccentric Chinese millionaire for 250 homeless New Yorkers in a posh restaurant degenerated into fury Wednesday when guests were denied $300 cash handouts.
30 June 2014 10:05
Golden Gate Bridge to get anti-suicide netting
Transportation authorities agreed to fund anti-suicide netting beneath the Golden Gate Bridge to prevent people jumping to their death from the iconic landmark, an official said.
Saudi to mark Ramadan from Sunday
Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting, will begin on Sunday in Saudi Arabia, the state-run Al-Ekhbariya television channel reported.
28 June 2014 14:19
Assange asked to model during London Fashion Week
Julian Assange has been asked to star in a fashion show by British designer Ben Westwood at Ecuador's London embassy, where the WikiLeaks founder is currently holed up in a bid to avoid extradition to Sweden.
Astana revives initiative to save tigers
An Action Plan of reintroduction of the Turanian tiger in Kazakhstan was discussed during a conference in Astana.
