Hairstyles of a spiky and unorthodox nature have reportedly been banned in Iran because they imply devil-worship, while tattoos and other male bodily adornments also being outlawed.

Jagged haircuts have become fashionable among all strata of Iran's youthful population in recent years, but have divided opinion and been deemed by the authorities as western and un-Islamic.

The first Italian woman in space is now the world's first orbiting barista.

Over the weekend, astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti fired up the first espresso machine in space. She posted a photo of herself on Twitter from the International Space Station on Sunday, sipping from a cup designed for use in zero-gravity.

A Tennessee woman searching for the stranger she kissed while running the Boston Marathon this year says she finally heard back — from the mystery man's wife.

Barbara Tatge says her daughter had dared her to kiss a random, good-looking man as she ran through the town of Wellesley, where the women of Wellesley College traditionally offer kisses to runners.

An inquisitive koala nicknamed "Blinky Bill" has sauntered into the emergency department of an Australian hospital, exploring the waiting room for several minutes before wandering back out.

The unexpected visit, captured on CCTV, delighted health workers and has gone viral on Facebook.

Australia will send a fine woollen blanket embroidered with yellow flowers to Britain's new princess, but the royal baby will also be honored with a more unusual gift -- support for a rare possum.

Fervent royalist Prime Minister Tony Abbott said the cot blanket made from Tasmanian merino wool and stitched with the nation's floral emblem, the wattle, would be sent to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge after their new baby arrived on Saturday.

Andy Murray saw the funny side Saturday when a U.S. celebrity magazine accidentally captioned the tennis star as a proud new father instead of former world number one Andy Roddick.

Roddick and his wife, actress and model Brooklyn Decker announced earlier in the day that they were expecting their first baby.

Britain's new princess will be strong-willed and innovative, a free spirit who will re-energise the royal family, Chinese fortune tellers predicted on Sunday.

Prince William and his wife Kate's daughter was born Saturday, falling under the Chinese zodiac sign of the sheep and with a personal element of earth, according to the ancient Chinese practice of feng shui. 

A woman who took her dog for a walk on a motorway in China while her car was parked in the middle of the road was "punished" by police, state media said Sunday.

Her boyfriend was answering "an urgent call of nature" with the couple's car "in the middle of the highway" in the central Hubei province Friday, Xinhua said, without giving further details.

Australian police have revealed an insight into the life of a stoner -- or habitual marijuana smoker -- by publishing a 10-point 'to-do' list found during a raid in Perth.

Murdoch police tweeted a photo of the list, removing any identifying material, on April 30 which mentioned 10 'Things to do Saturday'.

Hang up on Pope Francis and you might get a hug.

Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano says earlier this week, Francis dialed an ailing Italian man to comfort him. Francis has a habit of calling people who he has heard are suffering and telling them "Hello, I'm Pope Francis" when they answer their phone.