Lifestyle
Bye Bye, Bei Bei: National Zoo panda leaves for China next month
Washington's National Zoo will soon have an empty-nester exhibit on display when Bei Bei, the 4-year-old male offspring of the zoo's giant panda couple, sets out for China next month to help breed more of his species in his parents' homeland.
Hundreds of dignitaries to attend as Japan's emperor declares enthronement
Japanese Emperor Naruhito is set to proclaim his enthronement next week in a centuries-old ceremony attended by some 2,000 people, including heads of state and other dignitaries from more than 170 countries.
One-wheeled juggling: Lagos children learn new skills at unicycle academy
In a driveway of a suburban Lagos house, 14-year-old Kehinde Oguntokun juggles colorful circus clubs as he swings around on a unicycle.
Hungarian village's last bell ringer toils on as youth flee to cities
Ilona Petras' family has been in charge of ringing the bells of the 600-year-old Catholic church in the small village of Tereny in the northeast of Hungary for over a hundred years.
Kimono runway show lights up Tokyo fashion week
Rock met kimonos as Tokyo kicked off its fashion week with a dazzling runway show that put a modern twist on the traditional Japanese garment.
Thailand unveils puppies with royal pedigree
Thailand has unveiled eight puppies related to the pet dog of late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, as the country observed the third anniversary of the monarch's death.
Afghan museum restores Buddhist history, one broken piece at a time
Restoring Afghanistan's Buddhist artifacts that were destroyed by the Taliban 18 years ago is like working on a 1,500-year-old jigsaw puzzle, say conservators working on the latest restoration project.
Egypt discovers archaeological industrial zone in Luxor's 'Valley of the Monkeys'
Egypt on Thursday unveiled two archaeological discoveries in Luxor including an industrial zone at the southern city's West Valley, also known as the Valley of the Monkeys.
Supertyphoon Hagibis gives new wind to Philippine disco band
For a four-decade-old Philippine disco band, the namesake supertyphoon bearing down on Japan has brought a sudden rush of interest in its macho act.
Hong Kong protesters gear up at 'National Calamity Hardware Store'
While months of anti-government protests have taken a toll on Hong Kong businesses, from luxury retailers to hotels and restaurants, Keita Lee's pop-up stall is thriving.
Austria's Handke and Poland's Tokarczuk win Nobel literature prizes
Austrian writer Peter Handke won the 2019 Nobel Prize for Literature on Thursday and Polish author Olga Tokarczuk was named as the 2018 winner after a sexual assault scandal led to last year's award being postponed.
Climate change endangers Scotland's archaeological treasures
Ancient British structures older than the pyramids are being threatened by climate change, experts have warned, as rising sea levels, heavier rainfall and severe weather events endanger Scotland's archaeological treasures.
Nobel prize winner Tokarczuk calls for democracy revival in Poland
Polish author Olga Tokarczuk, who on Thursday was named the 2018 winner of the Nobel literature prize, said that Poland's general election on Sunday presents a chance for improving democracy in the country.
Yours for $1 billion only: the glamor of the London Ritz
The owners of London's Ritz hotel, a haven for royals, statesmen and movie stars, have hinted that they would be open to selling the luxury establishment for $1 billion, a source close to them said on Thursday.
Off the rails: Hanoi closes trackside cafes thronged by selfie-seeking tourists
It's the kind of shot every Instagram connoisseur yearns for: century-old railway tracks cutting through dusty backstreets, flanked by tourists drinking beer or iced tea mere inches from the slow-moving trains.
Alaska's Fat Bear contest crowns Holly `Queen of Corpulence'
A rotund and furry grandma bear has been crowned the fattest of them all.
High-tech jacket allows deaf people to feel the music
Twin sisters Hermon and Heroda Berhane love dancing but can't hear the music because they're both deaf, so the invention of a jacket with sensors that enables them to feel the different sounds has transformed their nights out in London clubs.
Underground necropolis to ease Jerusalem's grave shortage
A massive, new underground necropolis is being built in Jerusalem to help overcome a looming shortage of gravesites for Jewish people in the holy city.
Mona Lisa's smile a touch clearer through Louvre's new protective glass
Visitors to the Louvre in Paris should have a clearer view of Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa" after the museum installed a new, more transparent form of bullet-proof glass to protect the world's most famous painting.
Russian village's last teacher stays on for her one remaining pupil
Uminur Kuchukova, 61, could have retired years ago, but she continues to teach at this dying Russian village's once bustling school for the sake of its last pupil, a 9-year-old boy. When she leaves next year, the school will close.