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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.

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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.

Belgian driver gets 27-year jail term for deadly carnival crash

A Belgian driver was sentenced Wednesday to 27 years in jail after being found guilty of killing seven people by ploughing his car into a carnival procession while filming himself at the wheel.

EU lawmakers approve 'return hubs' migration reform

European lawmakers gave final approval Wednesday to tougher migration rules that will grant authorities much broader detention powers and allow for the creation of deportation centres outside the bloc.

Global data declaration targets illegal fishing

Fifteen countries signed a global declaration on Wednesday aimed at combating illegal and destructive fishing with better data.

Stuffed toys and surfboards: Japan used goods market booms overseas

Under a scorching sun in a Bangkok suburb, a whistle blows and shouts fill the air as dozens of shoppers rush into a warehouse bearing the sign "Japanese Second-Hand Store".

EU lawmakers to approve migrant detention and deportation boost

European lawmakers are to give final approval Wednesday to tougher migration rules that will grant authorities broader powers to detain irregular arrivals and allow for the creation of deportation centres outside the bloc.

EU admits it can't save discontinued video games

It's game over for fans of discontinued video games after the EU admitted defeat on Tuesday and said it cannot stop publishers making them unplayable.

India braces for El Nino-linked dry conditions

India will prepare contingency plans to help farmers weather potential low rainfall linked to the El Nino weather system, agriculture officials said Tuesday.

Restoring Kyiv cathedral hit by Russia could take two years: director

It could take around two years to repair Kyiv's Dormition Cathedral and its surrounding monastery complex after they were damaged in a Russian attack, its director said Tuesday.

Vast areas of coral reef could resist climate change: study

In the crystalline waters off Kenya's coast, coral reefs are thriving -- evidence of a rare good news story in the battle to protect oceans from the ravages of climate change.

Eight dead in fiery US bomber crash in California: military

Eight people died when a US B-52 bomber crashed and erupted into a catastrophic fire shortly after takeoff at an air force base in California on Monday, officials said.

'They want to destroy us': Shock and anger as Russian attack sets Kyiv cathedral ablaze

Father Makariy, a high-ranking clergyman at Kyiv's Pechersk Lavra monastery complex, was woken at around 5:00 am with a huge roar -- the cathedral at the heart of one of Orthodox Christianity's most important sites had been set on fire in a Russian attack.

Burnt-out Indonesians beat the blues with children's games

Flushed and sweating, 31-year-old Annisa Enggracia Fidel runs back and forth to defend her fort from invaders -- hundreds of fellow adults all beating the blues by playing a nostalgic Indonesian children's game.

Greek fishermen struggle to keep up with pufferfish invaders

On his fishing boat moored in the Greek port of Ierapetra in southwestern Crete, Alexis Charlambakis pries open the mouth of a freshly-caught pufferfish to reveal two massive teeth on each jaw.

US singer Oliver Tree aboard helicopter in deadly mid-air crash in Brazil

American alt-pop singer and internet personality Oliver Tree was aboard one of the two helicopters that collided mid-air in Brazil, leaving six dead, a police source told AFP.

Six killed as helicopters collide in Rio de Janeiro

At least six people died in Brazil on Sunday after two helicopters collided in western Rio de Janeiro, firefighters said.

Dozens arrested in New York violence after Knicks win title

New York police said Sunday that 63 people were arrested overnight as unruly crowds flooded into the city's streets to celebrate the Knicks' first NBA championship in 53 years.

Two men charged over England World Cup 'heist'

Two men were charged Saturday over the theft of $18,000-worth of kit and equipment from the England team at the World Cup, a US prosecutor said.

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