The elephants lumber across the field on the edge of a Nepalese jungle in pursuit of a small white ball. It might be slightly slower-paced than its horseback equivalent, but there's nothing sedate these polo pachyderms.

Nepal has hosted the annual international elephant polo championships since 1982, attracting players, celebrities, adventure-seekers -- and the occasional first timer -- for a chance to take part in one of the most unusual sports around.

A German couple went on trial Friday accused of brutally raping and killing a Chinese student in eastern Germany, in a crime that caused outrage in both countries.

A serial killer who murdered four young men he met on gay networking sites in Britain was sentenced on Friday to life in prison without the possibility of release.

Japanese police are offering noodle discounts to elderly citizens who hand in their driving licences, promising them cheaper ramen soup in exchange for improved road safety. 

The edible offer comes after a series of deadly accidents caused by cars driven by the elderly -- a growing problem in a country where 4.8 million people aged 75 or older hold a licence.

Two Manchester United fans spent Friday night hidden in an Old Trafford toilet in a failed attempt to see the Premier League showdown against Arsenal, in a second embarrassing security breach.

Size doesn't matter at the Icelandic Phallological Museum, home to the world's largest collection of penises which has an eye-watering array of specimens carefully collected from hundreds of different animals.

"I came to see if it was true, that there really was a penis museum in Reykjavik," American tourist Jerry Anderson told AFP, smiling as he stared at the phallus of a sperm whale, the largest specimen in the museum. 

A scuba diver who spent eight hours in shark-infested waters off Australia survived the night-time ordeal after swimming 22 kilometres (12 nautical miles) to shore, rescuers said Friday.

Donald Trump has been called many things but arguably the most bizarre is "the white Malcolm X", a title inexplicably bestowed upon him by President Obama's half-brother, Malik.

The website of Canada's immigration ministry crashed as many Americans sought to emigrate to their northern neighbor to escape a Donald Trump presidency.

Is the U.S. election a slam dunk? It is for Barack Obama, who early on election day Tuesday took part in a ritual game of basketball as Americans flocked to the polls.

In keeping with a 2008 and 2012 tradition, Obama hit the court with friends.