Tama the stationmaster, Japan's feline star of a struggling local railway, was mourned by company officials and fans and elevated into a goddess at a funeral Sunday.

The calico cat was appointed stationmaster at the Kishi station in western Japan in 2007. Donning her custom-made stationmaster's cap, Tama quietly sat at the ticket gate welcoming and seeing off passengers. The cat quickly attracted tourists and became world-famous, contributing to the railway company and local economy.

Sao Paulo has banned production and sales of foie gras -- and chefs in Brazil's largest city are fuming.

Mayor Fernando Haddad -- said to like the delicacy himself -- signed a decree instituting the ban, disappointing cooks who had hoped he would veto the bill passed in May by city hall.

The White House is lit up in rainbow colors in commemoration of the Supreme Court's ruling to legalize same-sex marriage.

Gay and lesbian couples in Washington and across the nation are celebrating Friday's ruling, which will put an end to same-sex marriage bans in the 14 states that still maintain them.

Criss Angel's rescue of an escape artist trapped in a water-filled box was no illusion.

Angel and Spencer Horsman were rehearsing for opening night of the illusionist's show at a Connecticut casino when Horsman became trapped in the box dangling above the stage and Angel came to his aid.

A 10-year-old mutt named Quasi Modo, whose spinal birth defects left him a bit hunchbacked, is the winner of this year's World's Ugliest Dog contest.

The pit bull-Dutch shepherd mix and his owner took the $1,500 prize Friday night, besting 25 other dogs competing in the contest that applauds imperfection, organizers said.

A pair of Argentine pilots were fired after taking pictures with a voluptuous star in the cabin of their passenger plane while in the air.

Curvaceous dancer and actress Vicky Xipolitakis posted photos on Twitter of her taking pictures with both pilots, one of which was taken clearly while the plane was in mid-flight.

Already stung by accusations that his presidential palace in Ankara is a megalomaniac folly, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is facing new claims of wasteful extravagance.

But this time the controversy does not surround a grand new building but a humble table set for the traditional fast-breaking iftar meal for the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

A giant gorilla with brooding good looks and rippling muscles is causing a stir at a Japanese zoo, with women flocking to check out the hunky pin-up. 

Shabani, an 18-year-old silverback who tips the scales at around 180 kilograms (400 pounds), has become the star attraction at Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens in Nagoya, striking smouldering poses the movie model in  "Zoolander" would be proud of.

A large tractor stolen from a Utah construction site was found abandoned at a Mormon church, apparently after the thieves took it on a ride through Salt Lake City's suburbs, officials said Wednesday.

The Komatsu PT250-5 front-end loader valued at $130,000 disappeared from West Haven early in the week.

A scratch-off lottery ticket bought as a last-minute Father's Day gift has turned a truck driver into an instant millionaire.

Joseph Morrah, 61, was given the winning $1 Million Payout ticket on Sunday, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported.