A double-dip in home prices, pessimistic consumers and a slowdown in regional manufacturing raised concerns on Tuesday that the economy’s soft patch could become protracted. “The question is, ‘Is the softer data we’re seeing transitory, or is it likely to persist throughout the remainder of 2011?’ Right now, that’s an open question that investors are […]

  A 19-year-old Muslim girl was stoned to death under ‘Sharia law’ after taking part in a beauty contest in Ukraine. Katya Koren was found dead in a village in the Crimea region near her home. Her body was buried in a forest and was found a week after she disappeared, the Daily Mail reports. […]

A Shanghai tea master explains how get the best brew for your buck People wax lyrical about wine; and don’t ever think of telling a coffee lover that all brews taste the same. But, rarely do we put the same taste buds or brain cells toward tea. Recently, I visited Sun Yuping, the kung fu tea […]

Beijing — Amid deepening public concerns over the country’s food safety following a wave of recent scandals, China’s highest court has ordered judges nationwide to hand down harsher sentences, including the death penalty, to people convicted of violating food safety regulations. In a directive released by the state-run Xinhua news agency over the weekend, the […]

Republican Sarah Palin rolled into Washington on the back of a Harley-Davidson on Sunday, sparking a frenzy of attention and renewed speculation about her 2012 presidential plans. Dressed in black jeans, leather jacket and helmet, Palin opened a campaign-style East Coast bus tour by joining tens of thousands of participants in the annual Rolling Thunder […]

Memorial Day is a holiday that has evolved dramatically over the years. Memorial Day observances began after the Civil War to honor the Union soldiers who gave their lives in the conflict. They were expanded after World War I to become a tribute to the dead of all the nation’s wars. When Memorial Day began, […]

Prison-issued toilet paper is what musician William Michael Dillon used to write down most of his songs, including “Black Robes and Lawyers,” which has just been released on iTunes. “I was arrested for murder on August 26, 1981, for a crime I didn’t commit,” Dillon tells his audience as he starts strumming his guitar. “I […]

As world leaders convene in France for the annual G8 Summit, Food & Wine’s restaurant editor Kate Krader divulges some top dogs’ favored noshes. Barack Obama: Hamburgers One of the many DC burger joints he frequents is Good Stuff Eatery, where Top Chef contestant Spike Mendelsohn created the Prez Obama burger and the Michelle Melt […]

As much as she would like to, Dr. Lissa Rankin, a gynecologist, will never forget the woman who planned her wedding while lying naked on her examining table. “Every 15 seconds, her cell phone was going off, and she was answering it!” Rankin recalls. “It was like, ‘That’s not the cake I ordered,’ and, ‘No, […]

Chicken drumsticks are finding their way to American dinner tables as a slowdown in exports has kept more of the dark meat in U.S. grocery stores and warehouses. Historically, chicken dark meat — long shunned by U.S. consumers in favor of white meat chicken breast — has largely been exported by U.S. chicken companies. Now, […]

Imagine a tiny boat afloat on a thrashing sea, water pouring through a gaping hole in the hull. A sailor is frantically bailing dark, angry water, but no matter how much he scoops, the water line never seems to recede — more waves just pummel him in the face like a particularly insecure middle-school bully. […]

  Beverly Hills, May 16, 2011/Indonesia Media Indonesian American Business Council (IABC) recently invited Indonesia’s Minister of Trade, Mari Elka Pangestu, to a discussion concerning Indonesia and American business at The Peninsula Beverly Hills Hotel. The event was sponsored by Mr. Zulfikar Mark Zulkifli, Director of Indonesian Trade and Promotion Center in Los Angeles, and […]

Buying a new home can be an exciting time, whether it’s your first home or your fifth. However, your savings, your credit rating, and your financial freedom are all on the line when purchasing a new home. You want to feel comfortable when it is time to sign on the dotted line and feel good […]

U.S. President Barack Obama has been given a red-hot welcome on his arrival in Europe – despite being decidedly cool in his approach to the continent, in contrast to previous U.S. presidents. Obama and first lady Michelle were greeted Monday by massive and enthusiastic crowds on the streets of Dublin and Moneygall on the Irish […]

Dublin, Ireland — Thousands of jubilant Irishmen and women gave U.S. President Barack Obama a virtual hero’s welcome Monday, embracing him as one of their own in a visit that included a campaign-style speech in downtown Dublin and a stop at the president’s ancestral home. Addressing an estimated crowd of 25,000 people at Dublin’s famed […]

Theirs had been an unwavering belief, the sort that inspired some to quit jobs, leave their homes and walk away from family and friends to issue a doomsday warning. Without question, they believed May 21 would be the day that Jesus Christ would return and rapture them – and a select 2 to 3 percent […]