Imam Hussain was martyred along with members of his family during the Battle of Karbala that took place in 61 A.H. in modern-day Southern Iraq.

In Iraq, Afghanistan and Iran, children and adults participate in reenactments of the Battle of Karbala by wearing armour and mounting horses.

In India-held Kashmir, restrictions have been placed on processions marking Ashura as part of a severe crackdown on dissent by Indian forces anxious to quell anti-India protests in the region.

Strict security measures have been taken all over the country to avoid any untoward incident.

Along with heavy police and paramilitary contingents, personnel of the Pakistan Army would also be deployed in sensitive areas of the country to ensure peaceful completion of mourning processions.

Pakistan and its armed forces will celebrate the 50th Defense Day this year.

More celebrations across the country are expected on Thursday.

The Hindu festival of Holi celebrates the welcoming of spring and is a celebration of the triumph of good over evil. Festivities include the throwing of colourful paint, powder and water on people.

During the rally, attended by several thousand people, Pakistani armed forces displayed nuclear-capable weapons, tanks, jets, drones and other weapons systems.

Pakistan Day commemorates the passing of the Lahore Resolution, when a separate nation for the Muslims of The British Indian Empire was demanded on March 23, 1940 as well as the declaration of the republic on the same day in 1956.

It is calculated according to a solar calendar, coinciding with the the vernal (spring) equinox. with this coming year marking 1395.

Nauroz that many associate with the Parsi or Zoroastrian culture is actually more of an Iranian celebration.

It means ‘new day’ in Persian and is the Iranian new year.

Therefore many Parsis, although they celebrate the new year and the beginning of spring by visiting family and friends, don’t always set the special table in their homes.

During the Holi festival, the women of Barsana, the legendary hometown of Radha, consort of Hindu God Krishna, attack the men from Nandgaon, the hometown of Hindu God Krishna, with wooden sticks in response to their efforts to put colour on them.

Villagers throw colour at each other, dance, and distribute sweets.

The prime minister, along with leaders of the other participating nations, watched the contingents march past the stage, a press release from the PM House said.

Pakistan’s fighter aircraft performed aerobatics, including a performance by two JF-17 Thunders and the Sherdil formation with its eight Karakoram-8 aircraft.

SSG Commandos performed free fall exercises. They jumped from helicopters, carrying flags of the countries participating in the exercise.

TERNATE: A total solar eclipse swept across the vast Indonesian archipelago on Wednesday, marked by ecstatic sky gazers cheering the spectacle, devout Muslims kneeling in prayer and tribespeople performing rituals.

The moon began to move between the Earth and sun at 6.19am local time (2319 GMT Tuesday), and about an hour later a total eclipse became visible in western parts of the country.

The sun then went entirely dark in a broad arc right across the world's biggest archipelago nation, which straddles three time zones, before the eclipse swept out across the Pacific Ocean.

Partial eclipses were also visible over other parts of Asia and Australia, and astronomy enthusiasts across the region gathered on rooftops, beaches and in observatories to witness the phenomenon.

Tens of thousands of foreign and Indonesian tourists flocked to the best viewing spots, and special events were organised, from a festival to fun runs and dragon boat races.

"It was spectacular," said Daniel Orange, a 52-year-old American tourist from California, who was watching the total eclipse on the small western island of Belitung.

"It was very beautiful, there are a lot of people here and when the totality hit, everybody cheered. I got goose bumps."

On the small Mentawai archipelago in the west of the country, hundreds cheered, prayed and hugged one another during the spectacle.

The whole eclipse lasted around three hours in Indonesia, but the total eclipse was visible for between just one and a half and three minutes, depending on location.

The weather stayed clear in many popular viewing spots, although clouds obscured views in some places.

More than 120 new models from manufacturers across the world were introduced at the 86th edition of Europe's flagship auto show, with industry leaders boasting of a positive mood after the financial crisis of 2008-2013 fades for some consumers.

Bugatti unveiled the world's fastest road car at the Geneva extravaganza: the 2.4 million euro ($2.6 million) Chiron with a 1,500 horsepower engine that can hit 420 kilometres per hour.

Also on display is the Lamborghini Centenario, almost modest by comparison with a 770 horsepower engine, a price tag of 1.75 million euros and a top speed of around 350 kilometres per hour.

VW's Bentley flaunted an all-new extended wheelbase version of its flagship Mulsanne saloon, especially catering to Chinese buyers with 250 millimeters of extra rear leg room and airline-style extending legrests.

Lamborghini said it would only make 40 Centenarios, which is the most powerful car in its 53-year history, and they were all sold before the doors to the Geneva car show opened.

A third of the planned 500 models of the Chiron had also been snapped up before the supercar's unveiling.

The 340-day mission saw Kelly break the record for the longest single stay in space by a US astronaut, while Kornienko is now fifth on the list for lengthiest mission by a Russian cosmonaut.

“We have landing,” Russian Mission Control confirmed after the trio touched down southeast of the settlement of Dzhezkazgan in central Kazakhstan at around 0430 GMT.

After returning from his lengthy stint in space Kelly was clearly in high spirits as he was lowered to the ground by burly Russian rescue workers at the landing site.

“The air out here feels great. I've no idea why you guys are so bundled up,” NASA TV reported him as saying as he sat upright in a chair on the steppe in temperatures just below zero.

Kelly and Kornienko returned with Russia's Sergei Volkov, who was stationed at the ISS for over five months and was met upon landing by his father, retired cosmonaut Aleksandr Volkov.

The “one-year crew” mission — which began on March 27 last year — was the longest by any astronauts aboard the ISS and seen as a vital chance to measure the effects of a prolonged period in space on the human body.

They have been subjected to a battery of tests and other experiments in preparation for a future manned mission to Mars and beyond.

Weightlessness reduces muscle mass and bone density and is believed to diminish eyesight by increasing cerebrospinal fluid around the optic nerve.

Kelly, 52, was also part of an experiment comparing his development and changes in space with his identical twin brother — Mark — back on Earth.

During the month long festival, devotees recite one chapter of a Hindu tale daily from the 31-chapter sacred Swasthani Brata Katha book that is dedicated to God Madhavnarayan and Goddess Swasthani, alongside various other gods and goddess and their miraculous feats.

The devotees go on pilgrimages to various temples, perform religious rituals, take a holy bath in the rivers and fast for a month, especially among women who believe fasting helps in their family's well-being or in getting them a good husband.

The six last samba schools were preening their spectacular feather headdresses and adjusting the shining G-strings and other tiny garments favored by lead dancers ahead of the all-night parades.

Another six rival ensembles had their turn through the night on Sunday at the climax of a Carnival season estimated to attract five million people.

A champion samba school will be announced Wednesday, closing an event that calls itself “the greatest show on Earth. “Some 70,000 fans cheered, sang and shook their hips overnight Sunday to Monday in the stands of Rio's purpose-built dancing stadium, the Sambadrome, as competing samba schools passed in a blur of feathers, glitter and flesh.

The outpouring of color, pounding drums, joyful song, and samba dancing helped the crowds put aside fears over the Zika virus, the economy and attempts to impeach President Dilma Rousseff.

“Despite the problems in our country, our people can't lose their love of partying. And whatever happens in our country, it's still the country of samba,” said Luanny Victoria, 19, before heading off to dance in a skimpy golden outfit with vast green feather wings.

In Beijing, hundreds of thousands of people visited traditional fairs held in parks, as well as Buddhist and Taoist temples offering singing and dance performances and open-air markets selling handicrafts.

Monday marks the first day of the Year of the Monkey ─ the ninth animal on the Chinese zodiac calendar.

The weeklong holiday, known as the Spring Festival in China, is focused on family reunion and is a time when students and migrant workers return to their hometowns.

It is the country's most important holiday, equivalent to Christmas for many in the West.

A contingent of French infantry in India for joint military exercises led the march down the capital’s central Rajpath avenue, the first time foreign troops have taken part in the parade.

The mood on Tuesday was celebratory, with Indian Prime Minister Modi — sporting a gold turban that rivalled the spectacular military headgear on display — and Mr Hollande chatting as they sat side by side in a bulletproof glass enclosure.

Modi invited Hollande to the parade in a show of solidarity with France after the Nov 13 Paris attacks. Both countries this week signed an accord for the sale of 36 French Rafale fighter jets to India.

An estimated 10,000 people braved thick smog and poor air quality levels to watch the display ─ the highlight of annual celebrations of the birth of modern India.

The two-hour showcase of military might and cultural diversity included everything from tanks and state-of-the-art weaponry to camels and traditional dancers.

The mounted camels of the Border Security Force — an annual highlight — put in an early showing, decorated in brightly coloured caparisons.

Traditional dancers representing some of India’s diverse regional cultures performed on colourfully decorated floats showcasing selected states.

A dog squad drawn from the Army’s Remount Veterinary Corps returned to the parade after a gap of 26 years to perform a march past wearing striped coats in their unit’s colours.

They were followed by motorbike stunt riders forming a human pyramid, another annual tradition, before the grand finale of the event, a fly-past by Indian fighter jets.

"We couldn’t afford the wedding expenses and were planning on a small ceremony at home," said Radha, mother of bride Laxmi.

"Seeing so many people here, especially when they stop by and ask if we need anything, means a lot. I couldn’t have given my daughter that. It’s more than we expected," she added, beaming.

A similar story was heard by most of the families standing beside their daughters or sons, a story of being unable to afford the wedding.

As a result, they approached the Pakistan Hindu Council (PHC) to include their children as part of the mass wedding ceremony held annually.

Patron-in-chief PHC Ramesh Kumar Vankwani said the majority of couples at the ceremony hailed from various districts and towns of Sindh, including Tharparkar, Badin, Sanghar, Tando Jam Mohammad, as well as Karachi.

Vankwani could be seen doing rounds to check if things were in order. He shared how only couples who had gotten permission to get married were selected.

"We help with arranged or love marriages only when the families are involved in every step of the decision making. Similarly, it is the same case with inter-caste marriages. We don’t get involved in their personal squabbles and ensure that the process is clear to all the parties involved," he said.

Read more: 60 Hindu couples tie the knot at Karachi mass wedding

Witnesses reported two large explosions as security forces moved in under dense fog to halt the bloodshed.

Police, soldiers and special forces swarmed the university from the ground and the air in a bid to shut down the attack.

After the arrival of China under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), work on two blocks and particularly on Block II has picked up pace.

Farhan Ahmed Ansari from Engro told Dawn.com that the arrival of Chinese engineers and technical staff has accelerated the pace of work on Block II. "More and more experts are arriving every day," he added.

Almost 3,000 technicians and engineers are expected to arrive on site to help locals in running the heavy machinery and developing open-pit mining.

Ansari said that over 80 per cent of landowners have been monetarily compensated for the lands aquired by Engro and the Thar Coal Authority.

The project's first phase involves the relocation of villagers from Sahri Dars and Tharyo Halepoto in Islamkot taluka. In order to evacuate the site chosen for open pit mining completely, villagers will we rehabilitated to nearby locations. Ansari claimed they will be provided with modern facilities, and given housing and employment.

Meanwhile, high school students are being trained in operational areas so they can be gainfully employed in the mega-project later.

The villagers of Sahri Dars and Tharyo Halepoto said they would resist if the commitments and promises made to them were not fulfilled. About 4,000 people are set to be relocated after their model houses are built.

An official from Thar Coal Mining Authority said that all preparations have been made for the inauguration of the country's mega-project, which comprises of 12 blocks on over 9,000 square km of Tharparkar district. Buried under this land lies an estimated 175 billion tones of coal.

Partab Shivani, a local activist in Mithi, hopes that the mega project brings prosperity to the backward region. He urges concerned authorities to keep their promises and feels that steps should be taken to ensure the environment, ecology, demography of the area.

This is the 32nd Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in in China's north-east province of Heilongjiang. The city of Harbin is bitingly cold during the day, with temperatures as low as minus 13 degrees Celsius. The theme for this year is 'Pearl on the Crown of Ice & Snow'.

The annual event in Harbin features multiple themed zones: a sculpture art expo, a lantern fair, and the Harbin Ice and Snow World.

Covering over 750,000 square metres, the Ice and Snow World is particular glorious at night, when the sculptures are lit up from inside.

Over one million visitors are expected to attend the spectacular festival. Weather pertaining, the festival will run up till late February.

While schools and universities over the country light up their candles for vigils, parents of the fallen hold on to their children's last belongings at their homes. School books, toys and trinkets are brought out even as they are gathering dust to remember the small lives that have perished. These items, the parents say, have become mementos of the nightmare they are living.

Meanwhile, the site of the carnage - APS Peshawar - is slowly and grudgingly regaining normality. Teachers and professors who survived the attack are back in their classrooms, despite injuries and mental trauma.

Other cities of the province, including Chaman and Ziarat, were also engulfed in snow.

The skies remained cloudy, with cold gusts of wind blowing throughout the day. People flocked to Ziarat, a popular retreat for tourists, to enjoy the valley's chilly weather. But cold temperatures come with their own problems. Residents often have to brave the weather without adequate heating, with reports of low gas pressure for days on end.

Environmentalists say Balochistan needs snow and rain to overcome its continuous state of drought.

"Snowfall helps maintain the depleting water table," Faiz Kakar, head of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Balochistan, tells Dawn.com. The Metrological Department has predicted more snow and rainfall within the next 24 hours in Quetta, Chaman and other parts of northern Balochistan.

Dubai's rapid transformation from a desert outpost into one of the world's most architecturally stunning cities is mapped out in the Marina. What 15 years ago was mostly empty land is today a bustling neighbourhood with a skyline that pierces through the clouds.

More than 150 high-rise buildings, stacked row after row, make up this 50 million square foot waterfront neighbourhood built around a man-made canal where the wealthy park their yachts.

The area is sometimes referred to as the Manhattan of the Middle East and some of its buildings are promoted by realtors as having "Manhattan-style" architecture and amenities.

A 12,400 square foot (1,152 square meter) apartment in the Marina was put on the market this year for a cool 56 million dirhams, or about $15.25 million.

Unlike Manhattan, though, Dubai's year-round sunshine gives the Marina a summer vibe throughout the winter months, when temperatures rarely drop below 75 degrees Fahrenheit (24 Celsius) during the day.

On weekends, alcohol-fuelled party boats ferry Russian and Western expatriates down the canal as speed boats and jet skis buzz in the water.

Trendy restaurants and bars along the canal reflect the myriad of cultures and people drawn to Dubai, a modern city-state in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) where foreigners far outnumber the locals.

Children can ride on a carousel, splash in a fountain and watch street artists perform on the canal's promenade.

Around sunset, when the blistering heat of the day begins to subside, people jog and ride bikes.

The Marina boasts the world's tallest residential building, the Princess Tower, which reaches 1,355 feet (413 meters) high.

The Marina 101 is currently being built to soar to 1,417 feet (432 meters).

The neighbourhood is one of many clusters of neck-bending skyscrapers throughout Dubai, built by armies of low-paid migrant workers, many of them from the Indian subcontinent.

These workers provide the manpower to build high-rises, shopping malls, highways and other mega-construction projects sweeping through the region.

While the wages they come for offer hope of a better life, they are far too meagre for most to ever dream of calling the Marina they built home.

Here is a series of photos taken by Associated Press who captured moments of daily life throughout Dubai Marina.

Thousands of “mawakeb”, spots where tents are erected by volunteers, are set up along the way to serve the pilgrims food and beverages. Baghdad and much of the country south of the capital come to a standstill in the days preceding Arbaeen, as several major motorways are reserved for pilgrims on foot on one side and authorised vehicles on the other. Over 20 million pilgrims, among them five million Arabs and foreigners, took part in the pilgrimage this year.

By late morning Friday, state capital Chennai has seen scant rain for almost 24 hours. Local residents are still complaining bitterly that their homes remain inundated and help from the government is absent.

Access to the region remains closed with the main airport still shut and rail tracks flooded.

The Indian Meteorological Department scaled down a forecast for very heavy rains but adds that more rain or thunderstorms are likely.

This is a long-hackneyed crib, though — the council has its many reasons for showing when it wants to show and really, the delay can be overlooked as long as the catwalk showcases exciting fashion.

Motifs and pearls drooped and dropped onto the runway in a certain showcase; in others, colours clashed and cutwork meshed uncomfortably with texture and every embroidery under the sun was seen as some of fashion’s hottest names fumbled and faltered.

MINGORA: With a number of stunning sites, Swat valley draws tourists in droves in the summer season, when they can enjoy the natural beauty, pleasant weather and serenity offered by the valley.

However, in winter, the valley offers more to lovers of winter sports and snowfall.

Popular among the many sites for snowfall and winter tourism are the Malam Jabba, Miandam and Kalam resorts where heavy snowfall attracts a multitude of tourists.

Malam Jabba is located at a height of about 9,000 feet above sea level. Snowfall begins in the month of November and the area wears a thick white snow blanket during the winter season.

It is the only ski resort in the country open for general public with ski slope of about 800 meters. Proper training camps are also arranged for beginners.

Miandam valley is located in the foothills of Hindu Kush mountains, some 40 Kilometers from the capital city of Swat, Mingora, and is another haven for tourists. The valley is easily accessible and is an abode for nature lovers in both summer and winter seasons.

Surrounded by mountains and dense forests, the valley remains covered with a thick layer of snow in the winter season creating a fascinating landscape.

Kalam Valley is an awe-inspiring tourist resort, with high peak and snowcapped mountains, majestic lakes, magnificent waterfalls, thick forests and lush green meadows.

Located about 100 kilometers from Mingora, Kalam is considered one of the most beautiful valleys in the world. The Ushu and Utror rivers join to form the Swat River in this area.

With over 500 hotels, big and small, the valley is thronged with both local and international tourists.

There are several other scenic spots in the region including Marghuzar valley, Bahrain, Sangar etc which receive heavy snowfall in the winter and remain swarmed with tourists during the season.

Vehicles with automated gun turrets sat alongside drink-serving karaoke machines at the World Robot Conference, as manufacturers sought new buyers for their "jiqiren" — "machine people" in Chinese.

The push has support at the highest levels of government.

Chinese President Xi Jinping issued a letter of congratulations for the conference, and the industry is name-checked in the draft version of the country's new five-year plan, the policy document that guides national economic development.

The world's second-largest economy is already the leading market for industrial robots, accounting for a quarter of global sales, according to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR).

But executives at a conference roundtable said the real market opportunity was in service robots for the homes and offices of the world's most populous country.

"There are now less than 100,000 robots in Chinese families, not including vacuum cleaners," said Liu Xuenan, chief executive officer of Canbot.

In the future, said Yu Kai, the head of Horizon Robotics, China's automated helpers will do everything from building cars to driving them, predicting that "each person might have 10 robots" — nearly 14 billion potential tin men at current population levels.

With scarlet and gold uniforms in sharp contrast to the dichromatic landscape of beige and green, the camels' tails switch in perfect rhythm.

Their passengers sway above them with looks of nervous concentration as they try to keep balance while blaring out the notes.

“It is very difficult to play the bagpipe while sitting on the camel," admits piper Muhammad Hussain. “But we have now learned the art."

The band, part of the Pakistan Desert Rangers, was formed last year after hundreds of animals went out of service, reduced by the latest military patrol vehicles to doing mere donkey's work — that is until the idea to dress them in bunting and put bagpipers on their backs was born.

After making their debut before startled spectators at Pakistan's National Day parade in Islamabad in March, they are now deployed in Moj Garh, 100 kilometres east of Bahawalpur in Punjab province, where they drill daily in preparation for a potential international career.

Wing commander Lt Col Abdul Razzaq says the band is a matter of pride for his troops, particularly as a counter-balance to arch-rival India.

India, he admits, does have its own camel-mounted military band — but theirs, he notes pointedly, “is a brass band”, with not a bagpipe in sight.

The Pakistani version helps keep them on “equal footing” with “our enemy”, he adds as the camels march past to the beat of the drums.

“They (the troops) should not feel demoralised ... they should feel pride that we also have such a band. We are not less than anyone else."

Moj Garh, home to a centuries-old fort, serves as a base for troops in the Pakistan Army, and its desert location made it a prime choice for officials deciding where to locate their camel band camp.

The army has built a huge farm housing some 170 camels there, where handlers train the temperamental animals to toe the line.

“It is an uphill task to train the camels, who are known for their anger, vengeance and mood-swings,” Razzaq says, as nearby handlers drape their charges in costumes before the start of a performance.

A team of veterinary doctors and medics give round-the-clock care and the handlers provide prompt feedings.

“They get angry and start fighting with each other if we do not feed them on time,” Sepoy Asghar Ali, one of the handlers, tells AFP, admitting that while camels are “quite intelligent” they are also quick to fury.

He describes the relationship as “friendly”, but it hasn't been an easy road.

“We have trained them in such a way that they don't get upset with even drum sounds... they obey our orders now."

Ready for the world stage

It's not all marching. Some of the specially trained camels also perform in an acrobatics display, featuring Rangers perched upside down on their backs and pyramids of riders balancing across three camels at a time — a manouevre described, somewhat understatedly, by Razzaq as one of the “most difficult” to perform.

The uniforms — from elaborate neck and leg bands for the camels to the bagpipers' tartan — are hand-stitched in Sialkot, northeast of the capital Islamabad.

“I feel pride in wearing this uniform and playing the bagpipe while sitting on the camel,” the bagpiper Hussain tells AFP near the Moj Garh fort.

Band major and Sub-Inspector Muhammad Iqbal, whose task it was to train the band, says it was difficult getting them over the hump.

“But I did it,” he says proudly, adding that the camels are now “good friends.”

“They are more loyal than humans."

Since their March debut the band has performed just once, in Lahore.

But they are now poised for bigger things, says Razzaq, who hopes to secure specialised training for his team at Pakistan's prestigious Army School of Music.

There is at least one other known camel-mounted military bagpipe band: the Sultan of Oman's Royal Cavalry Band. But Pakistan's pipers may soon rival them on the world stage.

“We can perform anywhere in Pakistan even at a very short notice,” Razzaq says.

“We are even ready to perform outside Pakistan — if facilities are provided to us to transport the camels."

Street Art Pakistan is an initiative taken by the team of artists to eradicate the illegal practice of wall chalking and Reform the Walls of Pakistan by painting them with positive themes depicting the colourful stories of Pakistan.

For years Lahore's walls have scrawled with graffiti touting everything from sectarian hatred to quack cures.

Now artists and volunteers are reclaiming the walls by painting them with cheerful designs aimed at bringing some happiness and pride back to the city.

There's some flash, with the Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport race car, and some hints of the future, with concept cars from Volvo and Subaru and a three-wheeler from startup Elio Motors.

Automakers are showing off in California because it's a hot market. It leads other states in new vehicle sales, according to IHS Automotive, and sales there are expected to hit their highest level in a decade this year.

Here are some of the hot cars at this year's show, which opens to the public Friday:

Alfa Romeo Giulia: Fiat Chrysler's Alfa Romeo brand jumps into the midsize luxury sedan market with the Giulia.

The Italian-made car with the trademark triangle grille, hood creases and beefy-looking exhaust comes with a Ferrari-derived 2.9-liter, 505 horsepower twin-turbo V6 that takes the car from zero to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds.

Alfa says the new rear-drive sedan has near-perfect front-to-rear weight distribution for crisp handling. Initially it comes only with a six-speed manual transmission. Production begins for North America late in the second quarter. The Giulia will start about $70,000.

CADILLAC XT5: The first of four new crossover SUVs that finally will give General Motors' struggling luxury brand entries in the hottest part of the global auto market.

The XT5 is slightly smaller than the aging SRX it replaces, yet it has more interior room. The company says use of unique laser welding techniques and lighter-weight, high-strength steel help make the five-seat crossover 278 pounds lighter than the outgoing model.

That makes it more agile. In the U.S., the 2017 XT5 gets an all-new 310 horsepower 3.6-liter V6 with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It looks similar to the SRX but it's rounded without the severe angles of the old vehicle. Pricing wasn't announced, but the SRX starts at $36,600. Production starts in the spring.

HONDA CIVIC COUPE: Honda's new two-door Civic Coupe is the second in a series of Civic variants coming to the US over the next 18 months, including a five-door hatchback.

The Civic Coupe has a sportier ride and styling and a quieter, more refined interior. It's more spacious inside, with an added five inches of rear legroom.

New options include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability. Under the hood are two more powerful engines: a 158-horsepower, 2-liter four-cylinder and the Coupe's first turbocharged engine, which gets 174 horsepower. Both get an estimated 35 mpg in city/highway driving.

The 2016 Civic Coupe goes on sale in March. Coupe pricing wasn't announced, but the 2016 sedan starts at $18,640.

FIAT 124 SPIDER: Fiat gets away from cute, bulbous and tiny with an Italian-designed two-seat sports car.

The low-slung convertible has some classic looks of its predecessor from nearly 50 years ago, but it comes with many modern updates.

The rear-wheel-drive roadster is powered by Fiat's venerable 1.4-liter turbocharged engine that puts out 160 horsepower. It comes with six-speed manual or automatic transmissions. Price wasn't announced. It arrives at dealers in the summer.

LINCOLN MKZ: The 2017 Lincoln MKZ is getting an updated look and a big increase in power. It's the first production model to drop the brand's polarizing grille - which looked, to many, like the mouth of a baleen whale - in favor of a design that debuted on the Continental sedan concept earlier this year.

The new grille is a mesh made up of repeated, rectangular Lincoln logos; it has an elegant, mid-century modern look.

Under the hood is a new, Lincoln-exclusive 3.0-liter V6 engine with 400 horsepower; that's a 100-horsepower increase from Lincoln's current top-of-the-line V6. A hybrid is also available. The MKZ also has new technology, including an adaptive cruise control system that can work in stop-and-go traffic and a high-end audio system. The 2017 MKZ goes on sale in summer 2016.

FORD ESCAPE: Ford's small SUV, which got a major redesign in 2013, gets some updates for the 2017 model year.

The new Escape has a wider, trapezoidal grille to match its bigger sibling, the Ford Edge. For fuel savings, it has two new EcoBoost four-cylinder engines - a 180-horsepower 1.5-liter and a 245-horsepower 2.0-liter - and stop-start technology, which automatically shuts off and restarts the engine at stop lights.

The Escape is the first vehicle with Sync Connect, which lets users do multiple tasks through their phones, including unlock doors and remotely start the car at the same time each day. The new Escape goes on sale in summer 2016. Pricing hasn't been announced.