Pakistan's powerful military, long accused by outsiders of backing Islamist militant groups, is facing an unexpected challenge -- a charismatic young Pashtun man who won't keep quiet.

Facebook on Monday said new detection tools wielded by its counterterrorism team are quickly detecting and removing extremist propaganda for the Islamic State group and al-Qaeda.

Three Mexican film students who went missing five weeks ago were kidnapped, tortured, killed and likely dissolved in acid, investigators said Monday, a gruesome end to a case that triggered vehement protests.

A fire tore through a karaoke lounge in southern China on Tuesday, killing 18 people and injuring another five in what authorities suspect was an arson attack.

At least 10 people have died after a man plowed a white rental van into a crowd of pedestrians in Canada's biggest city Toronto on Monday, in what police dubbed a "deliberate" attack.

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega was under pressure from widespread street unrest Monday despite backing down on a contentious pension reform plan that triggered days of violence in which at least 27 people have been killed.

Britain's Prince William accompanied his wife Kate as she left hospital Monday evening after giving birth to a baby boy, the couple's third child who is fifth in line to the British throne.

Jupp Heynckes plans to down his ex-club Real Madrid in Wednesday's Champions League semi-final, first leg, and take the next step to leaving Bayern Munich with another treble.

Researchers reported a link Monday between PMS and drinking alcohol, but could not conclude whether premenstrual suffering causes women to hit the bottle, or the other way round.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday kicked off a pomp-filled three-day state visit to the US at the White House -- a test of whether his studied bonhomie with President Donald Trump can save the Iran nuclear deal and avoid a trans-Atlantic trade war.

Tennessee police captured Monday the man suspected of gunning down four people at a restaurant in Nashville, America's country music capital.

Armenia's veteran leader Serzh Sarkisian resigned on Monday after mass protests against his election as prime minister with sweeping powers, sparking celebrations across the impoverished country.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday hit out at plans by the main opposition party to bolster Turkey's newest party and enable it to take part in snap presidential and parliamentary elections in June.

US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump hold their first state dinner on Tuesday, hosting the leader of America's oldest ally for a glittering event at the White House.

Doctors at Johns Hopkins University said Monday they have performed the world's first total penis and scrotum transplant on a US military serviceman who was wounded in Afghanistan.

The UK government said Monday that emigrants to Britain decades ago who have been wrongly targeted over their immigration statuses will be eligible for free citizenship, as it tries to contain the continuing crisis.

A man drove a white rental van into a crowd of pedestrians in the center of Canada's biggest city Toronto on Monday, injuring as many as 10 people, police said.

Yemen's Huthi rebels on Monday accused the Saudi-led coalition of killing their political leader, Saleh al-Sammad, in an air strike last week.

French President Emmanuel Macron began a pomp-filled three-day state visit to Washington on Monday, a test of whether his studied bonhomie with President Donald Trump can save the Iran nuclear deal and avoid a trans-Atlantic trade war.

The political leader of Yemen's Huthi rebels, Saleh al-Sammad, was killed last week in an air strike by the Saudi-led coalition, the Iran-allied rebels said on Monday.

All that glitters is definitely gold in a new exhibition at Germany's central bank that lifts the veil on the nation's massive reserves of the precious metal, partly to reassure sceptics that the prized ingots are really there.

A Belgian court on Monday said the sole surviving suspect in the Paris attacks, Salah Abdeslam, remained "dangerous" as it sentenced him to 20 years in prison over a gunbattle with police in Brussels that led to his capture.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp warned the club's fans not to repeat the scenes that saw windows of Manchester City's team bus smashed by thrown cans and bottles ahead of their Champions League semi-final, first leg against Roma at Anfield on Tuesday.

Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini has suffered a torn hamstring muscle, the champions confirmed on Monday, and will be miss this weekend's clash against Inter Milan and possibly the rest of the season.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp warned the club's fans not to repeat the scenes that saw windows of Manchester City's team bus smashed by thrown cans and bottles ahead of their Champions League semi-final, first leg against Roma at Anfield on Tuesday.

Once-feared Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic Monday urged UN judges to throw out his war crimes convictions, angrily denying he was behind a campaign of ethnic cleansing and murders in the Balkans conflict two decades ago.

Thirty-two Chinese tourists and four North Koreans were killed when a bus plunged from a bridge in North Korea, Chinese officials and state media said Monday.

South Korea on Monday silenced its battery of giant loudspeakers that blast messages at the North's border soldiers, in a conciliatory gesture before Friday's historic inter-Korean summit.

Hundreds of grieving Afghans buried their loved ones in Kabul on Monday amid growing anger over a suicide attack on a voter registration centre that killed 57 people including children and wounded over 100.

The psychologist behind an app that harvested data from up to 87 million Facebook users defended his role in the scandal Sunday, saying he "never heard a word" of opposition from the social media giant.

Iran banned the use of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies by banks and financial institutions on Monday amid ongoing debate over how best to regulate the technology.

Former New York City mayor and billionaire philanthropist Michael Bloomberg on Sunday promised $4.5 million to fulfill the United States's commitment to the Paris climate agreement.

Leading Chinese firms including e-commerce giant Alibaba were heavily criticised Monday for gender discrimination in job adverts in a new report which said the landscape for the female workforce in China was deteriorating.

Sitara Wafadar yearns for long hair like other girls. Instead, the Afghan teenager has disguised herself as a boy for more than a decade, forced by her parents to be the "son" they never had.

Payments from immigrants back to their home countries rebounded to reach a new record in 2017 but the costs of transferring funds also increased, the World Bank said Monday.

Record increases in wages and materials costs are eating into corporate profits despite robust sales, according to a survey of business economists released Monday.

US police hunted a semi-nude gunman who shot four people dead at a waffle restaurant Sunday after he fled from a "hero" who disarmed him.

Asian markets mostly fell Monday with technology firms extending last week's sharp losses, following another plunge in Apple as investors fret over the once-lucrative smartphone sector.

Paraguay's Mario Abdo Benitez, who represents the country's long-dominant Colorado conservatives, was elected as president on Sunday, landing the top job in one of Latin America's poorest countries.

In the Demilitarized Zone that has divided the two Koreas for decades, the two sides come face to face -- along with the contradictory narratives that will underlie a summit at the site this week.

Mining giant BHP said Monday it had been granted more time by a Brazilian court to negotiate with authorities on settling a large claim over the Samarco mine collapse that left 19 people dead.

As grief and outrage over the rape and murder of an eight-year-old crescendoed in India last week, a wrenching video of the supposed victim singing "her last song" lit up phones across the country.

A Belgian court will give its verdict Monday on Salah Abdeslam, the last surviving suspect in the Paris Islamist attacks, over a bloody 2016 shootout with police in Brussels that led to his capture.

Prince Harry will attend a memorial on Monday marking the 25th anniversary of the racist murder of black teenager Stephen Lawrence in a killing that triggered far-reaching changes to British attitudes and policing.

From the death of Tito in 1980 to the independence of Kosovo in 2008, here is a timeline of the 1990s Balkans conflicts which tore the former Yugoslavia apart.

To his supporters a hero who stood up for his people, Radovan Karadzic is to others a monster who brought the horror of genocide back to Europe half a century after the defeat of the Nazis.

Olympic gold medalist McKayla Maroney revealed sexual abuse by Larry Nassar five years before his arrest but nobody listened, she told NBC News' "Dateline" in an interview aired on Sunday.

A successful Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang has "raised the bar" for Tokyo 2020, the International Olympic Committee said Monday, warning organisers to brace for difficult questions and criticism as the Games approach.

Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega scrapped Sunday a contentious pension reform that triggered four days of violence in which two dozen people were killed, but rioting students vowed to keep up street protests until he is ousted.

The Group of Seven industrialized nations presented a stern common front against Russian aggression Sunday at their foreign ministers conference in Toronto.

Some 10,000 people marched through the Chilean capital Sunday demanding an end to the privatized pension system created under the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet, demanding improved conditions.

An Islamic State suicide bomber killed at least 57 people including women and children and wounded 119 outside a voter registration centre in the Afghan capital Kabul on Sunday in the latest attack on election preparations.

The Vatican's Sistine Chapel, an artistic Renaissance jewel, opened up to the digital age on Sunday with the first live concert streamed over the internet from the famous sacred space.

Two-time defending world champion Marc Marquez won his sixth consecutive MotoGP Grand Prix of the Americas on Sunday despite being dropped from pole position to fourth on the starting grid by a qualifying penalty.

Germany's Social Democrats on Sunday elected Andrea Nahles, a combative and outspoken former labour minister, as the first woman leader of the 155-year-old party, albeit with a lacklustre vote result.

Sci-fi horror film "A Quiet Place" snuck its way back to the top of the North American box offices over the weekend, beating out noisier action flick "Rampage," industry estimates showed Sunday.

Chelsea booked an FA Cup final showdown with Manchester United as Olivier Giroud tormented Southampton again with a sublime strike in Sunday's 2-0 win at Wembley.

Police were hunting Sunday for a seminude gunman on the run after a pre-dawn shooting at a Waffle House restaurant in Nashville, in the southern US state of Tennessee left four people dead.

Armenia's political turmoil deepened on Sunday with the detention of anti-government protest leader Nikol Pashinyan, shortly after Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian stormed out of talks on the tenth day of mass rallies against his rule.

More than 20 people have been killed in a clashes between Nicaraguan police and demonstrators in a wave of protests over pension reform, a local human rights body said Sunday.

A nude gunman shot dead three people and injured at least four more in the early hours of Sunday at a restaurant on the outskirts of Nashville, Tennessee, police said.

Eliud Kipchoge stormed to his third London Marathon title on Sunday to complete an impressive Kenyan double after Vivian Cheruiyot dominated the women's race in warm conditions.

Israel's defence minister on Sunday dismissed claims the country's spy agency was behind the assassination of a Palestinian scientist in Malaysia, suggesting instead that his killing was a "settling of accounts".

A 117-year-old Japanese woman, thought to be the world's oldest person, has died, a local official told AFP Sunday.

A suicide bomber blew himself up in a crowd outside a voter registration centre in the Afghan capital Kabul on Sunday, killing four people and wounding 15.

Armenia's prime minister and ex-president Serzh Sarkisian walked out of a televised meeting Sunday with anti-government protest leader Nikol Pashinyan shortly after it began, denouncing the opposition's "blackmail".

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's promise to build "socialist economic construction" in his nuclear-armed but impoverished and isolated country could herald more Chinese-style economic reforms, according to analysts -- but he will never explicitly say so.

It has been jokingly referred to as "Botmageddon". But a surge in new, anonymous Twitter accounts across swathes of Southeast and East Asia has deepened fears the region is in the throes of US-style mass social media manipulation.

French President Emmanuel Macron seems, as much as any world leader, to have developed some kind of rapport with his American counterpart Donald Trump.

Andres Iniesta hinted he may have played his last final for Barcelona after they crushed Sevilla 5-0 to win the Copa del Rey on Saturday.

Trent Boult left the cricket world stunned with his fielding brilliance after taking a sensational catch hailed as the "greatest ever" during an Indian Premier League match.

The foreign ministers of the Group of Seven industrialized nations were gathered in Toronto on Sunday seeking a common front against what they see as provocation from Vladimir Putin's Russia.

Istanbul's bright yellow taxis, ubiquitous and perennially honking for custom, appear ingrained in the daily life of the Turkish metropolis.

Verne Troyer, best known for his role as Mini-Me in the "Austin Powers" movies, died Saturday. He was 49.

Iran is ready to "vigorously" resume nuclear enrichment if the United States ditches the 2015 nuclear deal, and further "drastic measures" are being considered in response to a US exit, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif warned Saturday.

Johnny Sexton was all smiles as he refused to say which side he'd prefer to face in next month's Champions Cup final after helping Leinster book their place in the Bilbao showdown with a thumping defeat of Scarlets at Lansdowne Road on Saturday.

Zach Johnson, seeking his first victory since the 2015 British Open, closed with a six-foot birdie putt to seize a share of the lead Saturday at the PGA Texas Open.

Amir Khan's first bout in a British ring for five years saw him knock out Canada's Phil Lo Greco in a mere 39 seconds on Saturday.

Roma warmed up for next week's Champions League clash with Liverpool by easing past SPAL 3-0 on Saturday but AC Milan's European hopes took a knock with a shock 1-0 defeat against tailenders Benevento.

The EU and Mexico said Saturday they had reached an "agreement in principle" to modernise a free-trade deal sealed in 2000 between Brussels and the Latin American country.

World Bank shareholders approved a "historic" increase in the bank's lending capacity Saturday after the United States backed a reform package that curbs loans and charges more for higher income countries like China.

The gathering of world finance ministers began with heightened anxiety about the potential damage a US-China trade war could do to the economic recovery but ended Saturday with a door open to negotiations.

Past presidents, family and friends came together Saturday to bid a tearful farewell to Barbara Bush, the matriarch of one of America's most prominent political dynasties, at a funeral service in Texas.

Thousands of fans gathered in Stockholm Saturday to remember Swedish star Avicii, one of the world's most successful DJs who has died aged 28.

One person died and 17 others were injured Saturday in clashes between Madagascar's security forces and thousands of opposition activists protesting against new election laws ahead of a vote later this year in the restive island nation.

US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Saturday he was considering a trip to Beijing to hold talks on the trade dispute that is seen as a threat to the global economy.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said he would halt nuclear tests and intercontinental missile launches, in a Saturday announcement welcomed by US President Donald Trump ahead of a much-anticipated summit between the two men.

Investigators from the global chemical arms watchdog collected samples Saturday from the site of a suspected gas attack in Syria two weeks ago, after security concerns delayed their probe.

An actress from the popular TV series "Smallville" has been arrested on sex trafficking charges for allegedly recruiting women to a purported self-help group which forced them to have sex with its leader, US prosecutors say.

Inspectors from the world's chemical arms watchdog arrived Saturday in the Syrian town of Douma, where an alleged chemical attack took place earlier this month, the Russian foreign ministry said.

The UN Security Council met in a secluded farmhouse on the southern tip of Sweden on Saturday in a bid to overcome deep divisions over how to end the war in Syria.

An actress from the US TV series "Smallville" has been arrested on charges of sex trafficking for recruiting women to a purported self-help group in which they were forced to have sex with its leader, US prosecutors say.

Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright has insisted Arsene Wenger must have been sacked as he cannot believe his old boss would have walked away from his post.

A deaf and partially blind dog that kept a lost three-year-old girl safe in Australian bushland overnight was awarded police honours Saturday after leading rescuers to the child.

The Europa League trophy was stolen after being displayed at a publicity event in Mexico, only to be recovered a few hours later, authorities in the state of Guanajuato said on Saturday.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said he would halt nuclear tests and intercontinental missile launches, in a Saturday announcement welcomed by US President Donald Trump ahead of a much-anticipated summit between the two men.

Avicii, one of the world's most successful DJs who helped usher in the global boom in electronic music but struggled to cope with the hard-partying lifestyle, died Friday in Oman, his representative said. He was 28.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un declared Saturday that Pyongyang would halt nuclear tests and intercontinental missile launches, five months after its last ICBM launch amid a rapid diplomatic thaw.

A new exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York seeks to recreate some of the grandeur of the Versailles royal palace in France.

Kim Jong Un has halted North Korea's nuclear tests and intercontinental ballistic missile launches, as diplomatic efforts to ease tensions on the Korean peninsula gather pace.

James Harden scored 36 points as the Houston Rockets moved to the brink of a Western Conference first round playoff series victory with a 119-100 rout of the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday.

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson is confident Mohamed Salah will not be lured away from Anfield in the same manner the Egyptian was tempted from Roma last year.

Auckland Blues chief executive Michael Redman expressed support for embattled coach Tana Umaga Tuesday, saying he wanted the All Black legend to stay with the struggling club.

Jupp Heynckes plans to down his ex-club Real Madrid in Wednesday's Champions League semi-final, first leg, and take the next step to leaving Bayern Munich with another treble.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema were once the untouchable trio, but only one of Real Madrid's feted "BBC" can be sure of their place against Bayern Munich on Wednesday.

The French Barbarians will play the Canterbury Crusaders and Otago Highlanders in New Zealand in June at the same time as the touring French national team face the All Blacks, New Zealand Rugby said Tuesday.

AC Milan midfielder Lucas Biglia could miss the World Cup this summer with Argentina after suffering a severe back injury during the Italian club's defeat to Benevento at the weekend.

Chinese-owned AC Milan's shareholders have been called to a meeting on May 2 to discuss modifying the terms of one of two bonds signed by the financially unstable Italian club with US investment firm Elliott.

After winning the Stuttgart Grand Prix title a year ago, and reaching the final in 2016, Germany's Laura Siegemund is vowing to take it slowly as she returns following a knee ligament injury.

Theo Walcott did his best to boost Sam Allardyce's approval rating as the Everton winger clinched a 1-0 win against Newcastle United in the Premier League on Monday.

Ding Junhui recovered from a slow start to seize control of his snooker World Championship first-round clash against fellow Chinese star Xiao Guodong on Monday.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp warned the club's fans not to repeat the scenes that saw windows of Manchester City's team bus smashed by thrown cans and bottles ahead of their Champions League semi-final, first leg against Roma at Anfield on Tuesday.

Ederson has urged Manchester City to cap their title triumph by shattering a host of Premier League records.

The head of African football, Ahmad Ahmad, has urged Europe to back Morocco's drive to host the 2026 World Cup, in return for African support for a future European bid.

Britain should vote again on whether or not to leave the European Union Liverpool's German manager Jurgen Klopp told The Guardian on Monday.

Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini has suffered a torn hamstring muscle, the champions confirmed on Monday, and will be miss this weekend's clash against Inter Milan and possibly the rest of the season.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp warned the club's fans not to repeat the scenes that saw windows of Manchester City's team bus smashed by thrown cans and bottles ahead of their Champions League semi-final, first leg against Roma at Anfield on Tuesday.

Italian club and Champions League semi-finalists Roma announced Monday their new shirt sponsors will be Qatar Airways in a three-year deal, described as the largest the club has ever signed.

When Saleh Fawaz decided to organise his first boxing match in Lagos, he didn't expect more than 500 spectators. In the end, over 800 tickets were sold and he had to turn away dozens of fans at the door.

England captain Dylan Hartley became the latest player to be ruled out of June's daunting tour of South Africa his Premiership club Northampton Saints announced on Monday.

Germany left-back Jonas Hector has signed a contract extension with Cologne even though the club is likely to play in the German second division vext season, it was announced on Monday.

Grand Slam-winning Indian tennis star Sania Mirza on Monday announced she is pregnant, describing herself as "ecstatic" but giving no indication whether she would retire from the sport.

English back-row forward Steffon Armitage ruptured an Achilles tendon as his team Pau lost at Cardiff and will be out for six to nine months, his club said on Monday

Afghanistan's mesmerising leg spinner Rashid Khan will play for a World XI in the one-off Twenty20 clash with West Indies at Lord's to raise funds for stadiums damaged by last year's hurricanes in the Caribbean.

Liverpool's former goalkeeper Pepe Reina will face several of his old team-mates in a pre-season friendly with his present side Serie A title contenders Napoli in Dublin on August 4.

Jerome Boateng says only a defensive team effort can prevent Cristiano Ronaldo adding to his mind-blowing tally of nine goals in six games against Bayern Munich on Wednesday.

Mohamed Salah continued to steal the limelight among Africans in Europe at the weekend, scoring a record-equalling goal and being voted Players' Player of the Year.

Pakistan's World Cup winning field hockey goalkeeper Mansoor Ahmed Monday reached out to India for help in securing a heart transplant -- despite years of breaking his rivals' "hearts on the field".

A key factor in Leinster and Ireland's success this season has been the contributions of young stars such as lock James Ryan and back row forward Dan Leavy says their iconic fly-half Johnny Sexton.

A confessed admirer of the underdog tales of Robin Hood and Rocky Balboa, Jurgen Klopp is probably uncomfortable with Liverpool's status as strong favourites in Tuesday's Champions League semi-final, first leg against Roma.

Mohamed Salah was crowned the Premier League's Players' Player of the Year on Sunday, with his incredible 41-goal debut season at Liverpool beating out strong competition from Manchester City's Kevin de Bruyne.

As Japan's women return home with the Asian Cup and bold plans for world domination, their crisis-hit male counterparts have serious work to do to avoid an early World Cup exit.

Major League Baseball pitcher Danny Farquhar was fighting for his life on Sunday after undergoing emergency surgery the day before to reduce swelling from a brain hemorrhage.

Shohei Ohtani batted one-for-four with a single in his first game as a cleanup hitter as the Los Angeles Angels lost 4-2 to the San Francisco Giants at Angel Stadium on Sunday.

Jake Guentzel scored four goals and Sidney Crosby had a goal and two assists as the Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 8-5 to reach the second round of the NHL playoffs.

Greek star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 27 points, including the decisive tip-in with five seconds remaining, to give the Milwaukee Bucks a 104-102 NBA playoff victory Sunday over Boston.

A ferocious storm caused problems on and off the field in Christchurch while Australian sides suffered a blowout this weekend.

Thai golfer Moriya Jutanugarn finally joined her sister Ariya in the winner's circle, closing with a three-under 68 on Sunday to capture the LA Open.

Olympic gold medalist McKayla Maroney revealed sexual abuse by Larry Nassar five years before his arrest but nobody listened, she told NBC News' "Dateline" in an interview aired on Sunday.

A successful Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang has "raised the bar" for Tokyo 2020, the International Olympic Committee said Monday, warning organisers to brace for difficult questions and criticism as the Games approach.

NBA championship-winning centre Andrew Bogut has confirmed he will return to Australia to play for the Sydney Kings, who said Monday they are submitting "appropriate paperwork" to the NBL head office.

Brazil won the women's Copa America title for the seventh time in eight editions on Sunday, allowing them to qualify for the 2019 World Cup in France as well as the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Senegalese defender Kalidou Koulibaly's stunning last-gasp goal kept Napoli's title hopes alive with a 1-0 win at Juventus on Sunday closing the gap to just one point on the Serie A champions.

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho admitted his side have little chance of catching Premier League champions Manchester City next season unless the standards set by Pep Guardiola's side slip.

Paul Pogba insisted Sunday that he has no problems with Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho despite a difficult season which has seen the French star dropped on several occasions.

Giovani Lo Celso's late goal gave champions Paris Saint-Germain a hard-earned 1-0 win at Bordeaux in Ligue 1 on Sunday as they stayed on course to finish their season with a clutch of records.

Seven Volvo Ocean Race yachts left Brazil on Sunday for Newport in the United States on the 8th leg of the tough round-the-world contest, marred last month by a sailor's death.

Atletico Madrid warmed up for their Europa League clash with Arsenal by playing out a 0-0 draw with in-form Betis in La Liga on Sunday, a result that left Barcelona closer still to the Spanish title.

Two-time defending world champion Marc Marquez won his sixth consecutive MotoGP Grand Prix of the Americas on Sunday despite being dropped from pole position to fourth on the starting grid by a qualifying penalty.

French winger Teddy Thomas scored two tries as Racing 92 defeated Munster 27-22 to reach the European Champions Cup final Sunday and was then hailed for his sportsmanship after giving up a hat-trick chance so that a teammate could get on the scoresheet.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola played down a post-match pitch invasion that will be viewed dimly by the FA after his team celebrated their Premier League title with an emphatic 5-0 victory over struggling Swansea.

Benjamin Mendy made a winning return to first-team football -- and shared the experience with hundreds of Manchester City fans as he celebrated following his team's 5-0 victory over Swansea City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

Marcel Risse gave bottom-side Cologne faint hope of avoiding relegation from the Bundesliga with the "saddest" equaliser of his career in Sunday's 2-2 draw at home to Schalke.

Flying French winger Teddy Thomas scored two tries in a virtuoso first-half performance as Racing 92 defeated Munster 27-22 to reach the European Champions Cup final on Sunday.

Luxembourg's Bob Jungels produced yet another surprise victory from distance in cycling's Spring Classics, winning the Liege-Bastogne-Liege on Sunday after a solo breakaway from 20km out.

Lazio and Inter Milan kept their push for Champions League football alive on Sunday with champions Juventus and Napoli set to meet in a top of the table clash in Turin.

Organisers of an initial Israeli phase of the next Giro d'Italia cycling contest said on Sunday that they do not fear the event will be boycotted.

France's Alexander Levy claimed his fifth European Tour title with a nerveless one-shot victory in the Trophee Hassan II on Sunday and boosted his outside hopes of making the Ryder Cup team in the process.

Antonio Conte says Chelsea will be underdogs when they face Manchester United and his old rival Jose Mourinho in the FA Cup final.

Injured Brazil and Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar should leave France and resume his career in Spain if he wants to become the world's top player, former Brazil great Rivaldo said Sunday.

Rafael Nadal said he's looking to carry the momentum from his 11th Monte Carlo Masters title into the rest of the clay-court season after beating Kei Nishikori in Sunday's final.

Chelsea booked an FA Cup final showdown with Manchester United as Olivier Giroud tormented Southampton again with a sublime strike in Sunday's 2-0 win at Wembley.

Arsene Wenger decided to bring his 22-year reign as manager to a close to unite the club's frustrated fanbase, the Frenchman revealed after a 4-1 victory over West Ham was played out in a surprisingly subdued atmosphere at the Emirates on Sunday.

Rafael Nadal romped to a record-extending 11th Monte Carlo Masters title by brushing aside an outclassed Kei Nishikori in Sunday's final to retain the world number one ranking.

Arjen Robben says Bayern Munich can ill afford to show Real Madrid any fear if they want to avoid a second-straight Champions League exit against the Spaniards.

Luxembourg's Bob Jungels produced yet another surprise victory from distance in cycling's Spring Classics, winning the Liege-Bastogne-Liege on Sunday after a solo breakaway from 20km out.

Rafael Nadal romped to a record-extending 11th Monte Carlo Masters title by brushing aside an outclassed Kei Nishikori in Sunday's final to retain the world number one ranking.

Ronnie O'Sullivan believes he could live to the age of 200 but apologised on Sunday to Crucible fans for the "embarrassing" start to his latest world title bid.

Madison Keys predicted "a crazy" Fed Cup final against the Czech Republic after seeing off Pauline Parmentier to fire the United States past France in Sunday's semi-final.

Madison Keys saw off France's Pauline Parmentier to fire the United States into the Fed Cup final where the Czech Republic lie in wait for the defending champions.

Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge stormed to his third London Marathon title on Sunday to complete an impressive Kenyan double after Vivian Cheruiyot beat the heat to win the women's race.

Rafael Nadal romped to a record 11th Monte Carlo Masters title by brushing aside Kei Nishikori in Sunday's final to retain the world number one ranking.

Madison Keys saw off Pauline Parmentier in two sets to fire the United States into the Fed Cup final with a 3-1 semi-final win over France on Sunday.

Petra Kvitova put the Czech Republic into a sixth Fed Cup final in eight years following her win against Angelique Kerber on Sunday which eventually led to a 4-1 semi-final victory over Germany.

Brazilian superstar Neymar is expected back in Paris a month before the World Cup begins in Russia, French media reported on Sunday.

Romelu Lukaku believes the current Manchester United squad can win next season's Premier League, blaming a lack of consistency rather than quality for their inability to challenge Manchester City this season.

Eliud Kipchoge stormed to his third London Marathon title on Sunday to complete an impressive Kenyan double after Vivian Cheruiyot dominated the women's race in warm conditions.

Petra Kvitova put the Czech Republic into a sixth Fed Cup final in eight years as her win against Angelique Kerber on Sunday sealed a 3-1 semi-final victory over Germany.

Spanish authorities are facing a backlash after Barcelona supporters were forced to ditch yellow T-shirts ahead of the club's Spanish Cup final victory over Sevilla.

Arsenal great Bob Wilson believes Arsene Wenger is destined to manage France one day as his reign at the Emirates draws to a close.

Mauricio Pochettino sparked speculation over his future at Tottenham after Manchester United extended the London club's FA Cup semi-final pain at Wembley.

Maria Sharapova spent time prior to the start of the Stuttgart Grand Prix flinging a factory-fresh 700-horsepower Porsche 911 RT2 RS around a test track in Germany's automobile capital.

Argentina's Jaguares won back-to-back for the second time in Australia with a spirited 25-20 Super Rugby victory over the ACT Brumbies on Sunday.

Oakland ace Sean Manaea tossed the first no-hitter of the 2018 season, getting some help from an overturned call in the A's 3-0 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Saturday night.

Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday combined to post one of the greatest duo performances in NBA history as the New Orleans Pelicans beat Portland 131-123 to sweep the Trail Blazers from the playoffs.

Andres Iniesta hinted he may have played his last final for Barcelona after they crushed Sevilla 5-0 to win the Copa del Rey on Saturday.

Trent Boult left the cricket world stunned with his fielding brilliance after taking a sensational catch hailed as the "greatest ever" during an Indian Premier League match.

Nikita Kucherov scored his fifth goal of the playoffs and Andrei Vasilevskiy made 26 saves as the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the New Jersey Devils 3-1 to close out their opening round playoff series on Saturday.

Thailand's Moriya Jutanugarn birdied the 18th hole Saturday to match South Korea's Ko Jin Young for a share of the lead after the third round of the LPGA's LA Open.

Johnny Sexton was all smiles as he refused to say which side he'd prefer to face in next month's Champions Cup final after helping Leinster book their place in the Bilbao showdown with a thumping defeat of Scarlets at Lansdowne Road on Saturday.

Kei Nishikori believes he can find a way to beat Rafael Nadal in Sunday's Monte Carlo Masters final, but admits that the 10-time champion looks in ominous form.

Two-time defending world champion Marc Marquez is about to find out if he can win the MotoGP Grand Prix of the Americas from something other than the pole position.

Zach Johnson, seeking his first victory since the 2015 British Open, closed with a six-foot birdie putt to seize a share of the lead Saturday at the PGA Texas Open.

Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez inspired Barcelona to what will surely be the first part of a domestic double this season as they thrashed Sevilla 5-0 on Saturday to win the Copa del Rey.

Amir Khan's first bout in a British ring for five years saw him knock out Canada's Phil Lo Greco in a mere 39 seconds on Saturday.

Roma warmed up for next week's Champions League clash with Liverpool by easing past SPAL 3-0 on Saturday but AC Milan's European hopes took a knock with a shock 1-0 defeat against tailenders Benevento.

Defending champion Mark Selby suffered a shock first-round defeat in snooker's World Championship on Saturday as fellow cuemaster Ronnie O'Sullivan was made to struggle.

Roma warmed up for next week's Champions League clash with Liverpool by easing past SPAL 3-0 on Saturday but AC Milan's European hopes took a knock with a shock 1-0 defeat against tailenders Benevento.

Barcelona trounced Sevilla 5-0 to win a fourth successive Copa del Rey with skipper Andres Iniesta marking his last Spanish final with one of the goals.

Shaun Marsh followed Australia team-mate Matt Renshaw in making an early-season century in England's County Championship as he marked his Glamorgan debut with an innings of 111 at Gloucestershire on Saturday.

Britain's Prince William accompanied his wife Kate as she left hospital Monday evening after giving birth to a baby boy, the couple's third child who is fifth in line to the British throne.

The woman named by South African media as the future wife of ex-president Jacob Zuma has been forced to resign from her position at a women's rights charity, the group said Monday.

Madonna lost Monday a nearly year-long bid to stop an auction of intimate items, including a breakup letter from rap legend Tupac Shakur.

The Puerto Rican husband-and-wife duo of Buscabulla is taking the music of the Caribbean to audiences far beyond. But that's where parallels to the mega-hit "Despacito" end.

Prince Harry and his fiancee Meghan Markle attended a memorial on Monday marking the 25th anniversary of the racist murder of black teenager Stephen Lawrence in a killing that triggered far-reaching changes to British attitudes and policing.

Sculpture artists gathered in Scotland on Sunday to compete for the weighty title of champion stone stacker, in a quirky competition launched last year.

Grand Slam-winning Indian tennis star Sania Mirza on Monday announced she is pregnant, describing herself as "ecstatic" but giving no indication whether she would retire from the sport.

Prince William and his wife Kate's new baby boy is the third child of a man one day destined to be king.

Former US president Barack Obama will deliver the annual Nelson Mandela memorial lecture at a 4,000-capacity arena in Johannesburg in July, South African organisers announced on Monday.

Pope Francis marked his name day Monday by ordering thousands of ice creams for Rome's poorest, in the pontiff's latest gesture towards the most vulnerable.

Former US president Barack Obama will deliver the annual Nelson Mandela memorial lecture at a 4,000-capacity arena in Johannesburg in July, South African organisers announced on Monday.

Seoul police on Monday launched a probe into whether the wife of Korean Air's chairman illegally abused employees -- the latest accusation against a powerful, wealthy family with members known for their tantrums.

Philip Glass, often considered the foremost living US composer, has credited India with helping form his musical vision.

The Vatican's Sistine Chapel, an artistic Renaissance jewel, opened up to the digital age on Sunday with the first live concert streamed over the internet from the famous sacred space.

Rock 'n' roll had Buddy Holly, the psychedelic era had Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin and grunge had Kurt Cobain. Now electronic dance music has Avicii.

Sci-fi horror film "A Quiet Place" snuck its way back to the top of the North American box offices over the weekend, beating out noisier action flick "Rampage," industry estimates showed Sunday.

Yara al-Hasbani was putting the finishing touches to her make-up for a performance of "Romeo and Juliet" in Damascus when she found out her father had been tortured to death.

A letter penned by Richard Wagner warning of Jewish influence in culture will be auctioned next week in Israel, where public performances of German anti-Semitic composer's works are effectively banned.

A 117-year-old Japanese woman, thought to be the world's oldest person, has died, a local official told AFP Sunday.

Verne Troyer, best known for his role as Mini-Me in the "Austin Powers" movies, died Saturday. He was 49.

Tom Mesereau is a Hollywood lawyer to the stars who got Michael Jackson acquitted of child molesting. The question is, can he do the same for Bill Cosby at the first celebrity trial of the #MeToo era?

Hollywood actress Natalie Portman said she was backing out of a Jerusalem ceremony where she was to receive a $2 million prize to protest against the policies of Israel's prime minister.

Luxury furniture auctioned off by the legendary Ritz hotel in Paris sold for 7.3 million euros ($9 million), a world record in the industry, auction house Artcurial said Saturday.

An actress from the popular TV series "Smallville" has been arrested on sex trafficking charges for allegedly recruiting women to a purported self-help group which forced them to have sex with its leader, US prosecutors say.

He took up the cello at age five and then taught himself piano and guitar. But the DJ who calls himself Petit Biscuit found his voice when he discovered mixing software.

An actress from the US TV series "Smallville" has been arrested on charges of sex trafficking for recruiting women to a purported self-help group in which they were forced to have sex with its leader, US prosecutors say.

Avicii, one of the world's most successful DJs who helped usher in the global boom in electronic music but struggled to cope with the hard-partying lifestyle, died Friday in Oman, his representative said. He was 28.

Saudi Arabia hosted its first public film screening in over 35 years on Friday, two days after US movie giant AMC unveiled the kingdom's debut theatre in Riyadh.

James Bond actor Daniel Craig's Aston Martin, numbered with the character's signature 007, sold at auction Friday for $468,500.

The death Friday of 28-year-old Avicii, one of the world's most successful DJs, stunned his fans and the music world.

Avicii, one of the world's most successful DJs who helped lead the global boom in electronic music, died Friday in Oman, his representative said. He was 28.

Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets of Armenia over the last week to protest what they say is a power-grab by the ex-president after he moved to become prime minister.

Saudi Arabia, one of the world's most conservative countries, is taking major steps to open up, allowing women more freedoms and boosting entertainment options for its mostly young population.

The singer Janelle Monae on Friday announced the release of a dystopian film to accompany her first album in nearly five years, which was initially being produced by Prince.

Oscar-winning actress Natalie Portman has cancelled her participation in a Jerusalem ceremony where she was to receive a $2 million (1.6 million euro) prize, saying she was troubled by "recent events" in Israel, organisers said.

Pressure mounted Friday against Pakistani singer Ali Zafar after he was hit with a sexual harassment allegation by a leading actress in the first high profile "#metoo" accusation in the staunchly patriarchal country.

Philippine boxing legend Manny Pacquiao insisted Friday that his advancing years were no barrier to success as he gears up for a showdown against world champion Lucas Matthysse.

Paramount has agreed to fund and distribute "Rocketman," a biopic about British entertainer Elton John, a spokesman for the US studio said on Thursday.

The investigative work of slain Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia has been pursued by dozens of colleagues worldwide who this week published a flurry of revelations and delved into the mystery surrounding her murder.

A Mexican court has barred sales of a controversial Frida Kahlo Barbie doll in the painter's home country, ruling her family owned the sole rights to her image, lawyers said Thursday.

David Bowie has taken over a subway station in his adopted home of New York, with images of the rock legend plastered throughout and commemorative fare cards issued in his honor.

The US jury tasked with finding Bill Cosby innocent or guilty will likely take the case next week as the evidence-phase of his sexual assault retrial moves quicker than planned, the judge said Thursday.

Kanye West, the once-omnipresent rap superstar who vanished a year and a half ago amid a purported mental breakdown, on Thursday re-emerged to announce not one but two albums.

Two years after Prince's death, prosecutors said Thursday they would not file any criminal charges as they could not determine how the pop icon obtained the counterfeit painkillers that killed him.

A prima ballerina at Russia's Bolshoi Theatre has been refused a US visa, Russian agencies said Thursday, weeks after a round of tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions led to a reduction in embassy staff numbers.

From biscuits to beer and traditional mugs, businesses and Windsor residents are making the most of royal wedding fever with one month to go to the nuptials of Britain's Prince Harry.

In an era of hyper-partisan feuding and noxious personal attacks, the life and lengthy marriage of former first lady Barbara Bush serve as poignant reminders in power-obsessed Washington that decency and grace can win out.

Canadian director David Cronenberg will be honoured by the Venice Film Festival with its Golden Lion prize, the festival board announced Thursday, for his lifetime's work on life, death and sex wrapped up in gory horror and alienation.

It's the closest thing yet to an ABBA reunion: computerised avatars of Sweden's legendary disco group will perform during a televised tribute to the quartet to be broadcast this autumn, ABBA member Bjorn Ulvaeus said Thursday.

A flash of metal glinted in the Sydney sunshine as Curtis Bennett took one last swing of his axe and brought it down hard on the log at his feet.

With one month to go until Prince Harry's wedding to US actress Meghan Markle, here are 10 key dates in his life so far:

In marrying into one of the world's most exclusive families, former US actress Meghan Markle will soon have to learn rituals handed down through the centuries of the British royal family.

While some aspects of Britain's upcoming royal wedding are still under wraps, the palace has divulged a few details ahead of the marriage of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle on May 19.

Meghan Markle's half-brother has accused the royal bride-to-be of forgetting "her roots and her family" and "acting phoney" in a stinging interview with a British newspaper.

The Cannes Film Festival announced Thursday that Danish director Lars von Trier will return to the event this year for the first time since he was expelled in 2011 for saying he "sympathised" with Hitler.

Stripy and Jake are bear cubs fed by bottle, who frisk around happily. Other bear orphans perch in the trees when Ben Kilham ventures into their enclosure.

German prosecutors on Wednesday cleared a performance of a satirical play named after Adolf Hitler's book "Mein Kampf" that promises free entry to spectators who wear a swastika.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has given his young, stylish wife the title of First Lady in what analysts say is a major boost to her status ahead of back-to-back summits with South Korea and the United States.

Hollywood is falling back in love with the movie musical, seduced by the success of Oscar winner "La La Land" and buoyed by a wave of live-action Disney adaptations.

Before he fell for American actress Meghan Markle, Britain's Prince Harry, 33, had several other girlfriends.

Britain has long entranced the world with its spectacular royal weddings, occasions of glittering pageantry and glamour that feed into a fascination with the monarchy.

It was love at first sight for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who both quickly sensed their brief encounter on a blind date could blossom into something much, much bigger.

Charlie Puth's silky falsetto made him a global star with the pop ballad "See You Again," but his roots, he is quick to point out, are in jazz.

Saudi Arabia on Wednesday unveiled its first cinema in over 35 years with a private screening of the blockbuster "Black Panther", the first in a series of trial runs before movie theatres open to the wider public.

Outfits and instruments by late pop icon Prince, who was known for his distinct and unique style, will go under the hammer in New York next month.

A media group agreed to release an ex-Playboy model from a deal that stopped her from discussing an alleged affair with US President Donald Trump, both sides confirmed Wednesday.

Gamers wearing headsets and wielding rifles adorned with flashing lights battle a horde of zombies, letting out the occasional terrified shriek.

Raul Castro, who steps down Thursday as Cuba's president, lived most of his life in the shadow of Fidel, his iconic brother. But after taking over in 2006, he steered the island on a path of radical reform as only he could do.

Hollywood actresses will dominate the jury at Cannes next month, the film festival's organisers said Wednesday as they appeared set to lift their bar on controversial Danish director Lars Von Trier.

Hollywood actresses Cate Blanchett, Kristen Stewart and Lea Seydoux will head a starry female-dominated jury at the Cannes film festival next month, the organisers said Wednesday.

Hollywood actresses Cate Blanchett, Kristen Stewart and Lea Seydoux will head a starry and majority-female jury at the Cannes film festival next month, the organisers said Wednesday.

Former FBI director James Comey fended off attacks Tuesday over his blistering criticism of President Donald Trump as his new book hit the stores and held the top slot on Amazon's bestseller list.

The MTV Video Music Awards, the televised gala known for headline-grabbing performances and celebrity antics, will return to New York on August 20.

The latest shocker by cinematic bad boy Gaspar Noe -- whose 3D sex scenes in his last film "Love" saw it banned in Russia -- is set to push the boundaries when it is premiered at the Cannes film festival next month.

The Cannes film festival said Tuesday that it was still in talks with Netflix despite the platform's dramatic withdrawal of its films last week.

Australian alternative rocker Nick Cave, Hollywood star Johnny Depp and punk legend Iggy Pop will be among the headliners at this year's Montreux Jazz Festival, organisers announced Tuesday.

Orchid has only told six people that she is a lesbian -- a subject she still struggles to talk about, trembling at the thought of her mother finding out.

A South Korean actress who was once kidnapped by the North's agents on the orders of late leader Kim Jong-Il in a Cold War-style intrigue and forced to make movies for the regime has died aged 91, her family says.

Sci-fi action flick "Rampage" topped North American box offices over the weekend to barely beat out horror film "A Quiet Place," industry figures showed Monday.

A South Korean actress who was once kidnapped by the North's agents on the orders of leader Kim Jong Un's late father and forced to make movies for the regime has died aged 91, her family said.

Hip-hop superstar Drake teased a new album Monday, all but certain to prove a major commercial success as he dethroned himself on top of the singles chart.

Researchers reported a link Monday between PMS and drinking alcohol, but could not conclude whether premenstrual suffering causes women to hit the bottle, or the other way round.

Three bear cubs have been rescued in Bulgaria after villagers found them roaming alone on a road in the country's southern Rhodope mountains, the Four Paws animal charity said Monday.

California will zigzag between droughts and floods which will become more intense and more frequent in the coming decades unless global emissions of planet-warming greenhouse gases are checked, researchers said Monday.

Europe is set to launch a satellite on Wednesday to keep a close eye on Earth's oceans, under siege from pollution and damage caused by humans.

China could avoid nearly 94,000 premature deaths and save a whopping $339 billion in health costs over the next 12 years by honouring its carbon reduction commitments under the Paris climate accord, a study showed Monday.

Bolatito Joseph has strong suspicions about what is causing her breathing problems and a mucus build up: a building site near her home and noxious fumes from a rubbish dump close to her church.

The population of Cambodia's critically endangered river dolphin is growing for the first time in decades, conservations said Monday, hailing a major turnaround for the freshwater species.

Mining giant BHP said Monday it had been granted more time by a Brazilian court to negotiate with authorities on settling a large claim over the Samarco mine collapse that left 19 people dead.

Humans sweat, dogs pant, cats lick their fur. Animals have adopted an interesting array of techniques for regulating body temperature through evaporation.

Visitors to a zoo in southeastern China killed one kangaroo and injured another by throwing bricks at them in an attempt to get a reaction from the big marsupials, state media reported.

A Brazilian prosecutor warned of "ecocide" in recommending against a drilling license for French oil major Total close to a huge coral reef near the mouth of the Amazon River.

Researchers have discovered the first evidence that people can genetically adapt to deep diving, as shown by the unusually large spleens in indigenous people of Indonesia known as the "Sea Nomads," a study said Thursday.

A hole in the skull of a Stone Age cow was likely made by humans about 5,000 years ago, probably by a primitive veterinarian or trainee surgeon, scientists said Thursday.

A volcano in southern Japan erupted for the first time in 250 years on Thursday, spewing steam and ash hundreds of metres into the air, as authorities warned locals not to approach the mountain.

Stripy and Jake are bear cubs fed by bottle, who frisk around happily. Other bear orphans perch in the trees when Ben Kilham ventures into their enclosure.

A hermit crab, a shiny-eyed shrimp and a crab with fuzzy spines are among over a dozen new species discovered in a deep-sea expedition off the Indonesian island of Java, scientists said.

Sick of struggling with incomprehensible instructions and a baffling array of planks and screws? Help is at hand in the form of a new robot that can assemble an IKEA chair in minutes.

NASA on Wednesday blasted off its newest planet-hunting spacecraft, TESS, a $337 million satellite that aims to scan 85 percent of the skies for cosmic bodies where life may exist.

Australia's Great Barrier Reef suffered a "catastrophic die-off" of coral during an extended heatwave in 2016, threatening a broader range of reef life than previously feared, a report revealed Thursday.

California has the most polluted cities in the United States, a report issued on Wednesday said, as President Donald Trump's administration seeks to force the state to weaken its vehicle emissions standards.

Support in Canada for a pipeline expansion to move oil to the Pacific coast for shipping to new markets overseas is rising, polling showed Wednesday as protests against it followed the prime minister to Britain.

SpaceX was poised Wednesday to try again to blast off NASA's newest planet-hunting spacecraft after a two-day delay to check out the Falcon 9 rocket's navigation systems.

The US Supreme Court was transported to the American West and another century on Wednesday as it heard a case involving Native Americans and salmon fishing rights.

Keeping transplant livers on "life support" at body temperature preserves them better than the prevailing method of near-freezing, and could reduce the number of donor organs thrown away, a study said Wednesday.

German police raided the offices of Porsche and Audi Wednesday as part of a fraud probe against two top Porsche executives and a former employee of the luxury carmaker in connection with the diesel emissions cheating scandal.

Unusually cold water has devastated some of the world's most northerly coral reefs, which lie off the coast of western Japan, an environment ministry official said Wednesday.

China has a found a novel way to tackle its massive air pollution problem: Putting up a giant air purifier the size of an industrial smokestack in the middle of a smog-plagued city.

Prague zoo said Tuesday that its small flock of critically endangered Javan green magpies was growing, thanks in part to a special new feeding technique using a puppet.

Three baboons escaped a Texas biomedical research facility over the weekend, getting a brief taste of freedom from a life as subjects of medical experiments.

Icelandic whaling company Hvalur said Tuesday it would resume its controversial hunt of endangered fin whales after a two-year suspension, sparking angry protests from animal rights activists.

Environmental campaigners Greenpeace said Tuesday that a massive coral reef has been found to extend right into where France's oil company Total plans to drill near the mouth of the Amazon.

Researchers in the US and Britain have accidentally engineered an enzyme which eats plastic and may eventually help solve the growing problem of plastic pollution, a study said Monday.

Melinda Colite shakes with rage as she clutches a photo of her grandson, who she says died after getting the anti-dengue fever vaccine at the heart of a bitter scandal in the Philippines.

Poland's rightwing government broke the law by logging in one of Europe's last primeval forests, the EU's top court ruled on Tuesday, setting up a fresh clash between Warsaw and Brussels.

The Philippines is set to deploy hundreds of riot police to top holiday island Boracay to keep travellers out and head off potential protests ahead of its six-month closure to tourists, the government said Tuesday.