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Fire brings destruction, uncertainty

A ferocious wildfire had swallowed up many homes as it spread across more than 100 square kilometers of mountain and desert east of Los Angeles. Exactly how many, however, and to whom they belonged, remained uncertain.

After scorching heat, Earth to get respite

The Earth is likely to get relief in 2017 from record scorching temperatures that bolstered governments' resolve last year in reaching a deal to combat climate change, scientists said on Wednesday.

No stone left unturned in artist's workshop

Luigi Lineri's home workshop is covered in stones - tens of thousands of them. They resemble animal heads, human faces and other forms, and the artist and poet believes may have been shaped by prehistoric humans.

Niagara Falls latest natural wonder to offer zip line

Niagara Falls has become the latest natural wonder to add a zip line, offering honeymooners and everyone else the chance to take an adrenaline-pumping plunge toward churning mist at speeds topping 65 km/h.

Australia agrees to close detention center on PNG

Australia and Papua New Guinea said on Thursday that they had agreed to close a controversial Australian-funded asylum seeker detention center on Manus Island, although the ultimate fate of 800 refugees held in the camp remained unclear.

New York settles police shooting lawsuit for $4.1m

New York has reached a settlement of more than $4 million with the family of an unarmed man fatally shot by a police officer in a darkened stairwell nearly two years ago, the attorney for the family said on Tuesday.

Teenager found biting off slain man's face at murder scene

A teenager bit off pieces of the face of a slain man at the scene of a double homicide in Florida that may be linked to an addictive synthetic drug.

Vietnamese furnish ancestors with jets, rollers and mansions

With an average annual income of around $2,000, most Vietnamese would not consider themselves especially wealthy. But in the afterlife, you can be a billionaire thanks to paper offerings made by your scions.

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Italy's tourist jewel feels strain of wary travelers

Hiking the coastal path that links the medieval fishing villages of Italy's Cinque Terre on its northwest coast is a stop-start affair these days.

Anxious summer as French look over shoulder

With every new terror attack, French citizens stoically declare that "life goes on", but despite this show of defiance, a creeping anxiety has taken hold of society.