Japan's health and labor minister has defended workplaces that require women to wear high heels to work, arguing it is "necessary and appropriate" after a petition was filed against the practice.

In a neighborhood bar on a cobbled square in Lisbon's historic working-class Alfama district, an eclectic mix of punters pull up little wooden stools around a dozen intimately lit tables.

U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday he decided to ban transgender Americans from serving in the military because they take a "massive amounts of drugs."

An independent commission set up by the French Catholic Church to look at allegations of sexual abuse by clerics begins its work on Monday by launching an appeal for witness statements.

A group of Japanese women Monday submitted a petition to the government to protest what they say is a de-facto requirement for female staff to wear high heels at work.

A senior member of parliament campaigning to be Israel's next justice minister said Monday that the country should be ruled by Jewish law, just like in biblical times.

High street makeup powerhouse Sephora has announced it will close all its U.S. stores, distribution centres and corporate office for employee training after a racial profiling incident involving Grammy-nominated singer SZA.

A massive cruise ship lost control as it docked in Venice on Sunday, crashing into the wharf and hitting a tourist boat after suffering an engine failure.

Pope Francis on Sunday asked the Roma people for "forgiveness" for discrimination committed by the Roman Catholic Church against them after meeting with members of the community in Romania.

Pope Francis on the  second day of a visit to Romania celebrated diversity at a mass Saturday attended by tens of thousands of people in a predominantly ethnic-Hungarian part of the Transylvania region seen as the highlight of his trip.