With arugula straight from his garden and entertainment by two Oscar winners, President Barack Obama took a fresh take on the state dinner in Washington's top social event since his inauguration.
French artist sells work in 'game' with the devilA French artist has struck an unusual deal to sell his latest work: instead of paying up front, the buyer will hand over a regular fee until the artist dies.
Straight British couple fight for civil partnershipA straight British couple who reject marriage but want to seal their love with a civil partnership were told Tuesday they could not because they are not gay.
Italians reject proposal to abolish lunch breaks: mediaItalians have vehemently rejected a cabinet minister's proposal that lunch breaks be scrapped to increase productivity, media reported Tuesday.
Rio does away with coconuts on beachesOne of the enduring images of Rio's beaches -- coconuts opened to yield their sweet water -- is about to be a thing of the past under a new clean-up campaign by authorities.
Title fight unites boxers of different faithsA fist fight may seem an odd way to show respect between Jews and Muslims, but when Dmitriy Salita competes for the WBA light-welterweight title next month, he'll be doing just that.
War deprives Yemeni elite of choicest chewFor Yemenis, the mild narcotic qat is as much a part of the social fabric as an after-dinner drink in the West and, as with brandies, connoisseurs want the best varieties. But the trees that produce the most sought-after leaves now lie in a war zone.
Bizarre candidates kick off Philippine election raceBizarre candidates such as the "Ultimate Messiah" and a man who crows like a chicken are seeking their moments of fame by making unlikely bids for president in next year's Philippine elections.
Taiwan's dwindling birth rate causes concernAs a schoolteacher, Ariel Shen has been observing Taiwan's declining birth rate from up close.
Celebrity Style
Jessica Szohr's deadly accessories'Gossip Girl' actress Jessica Szohr believes her character Vanessa Abrams would die if she didn't wear lots of dramatic accessories.
Halle Berry too busy for make-upActress Halle Berry has revealed she is ''too busy'' to worry about putting on make-up, even though she is fanatical about looking after her skin.
Erin O'Connor's surgery outcrySupermodel Erin O'Connor was told she needed a nose job and breast enlargement surgery if she wanted to be a successful model.
Vintage fan Pixie LottBritish singer Pixie Lott admits she loves wearing vintage clothes and gets a thrill when she finds good outfits.
Health
US women to ignore new breast exam advice: pollThree-quarters of US women disagree with a high-level panel's recommendations to raise the age of breast cancer screening and even more plan to ignore the guidelines, a poll showed Tuesday.
Six bad reactions to swine flu vaccine in Canada: officialSix severe allergic reactions to swine flu vaccinations have been observed in Canada, health authorities said Tuesday, adding that all of the individuals are feeling better.
Drug-resistant staph infections rising in US: studyCases of antibiotic-resistant staph infections usually acquired in the community are growing in the United States and rapidly spreading to hospitals, researchers said Tuesday.
- Six bad reactions to swine flu vaccine in Canada: official
Six severe allergic reactions to swine flu vaccinations have been observed in Canada, health authorities said Tuesday, adding that all of the individuals are feeling better.
Forbes Features
Halle Berry Turns EntrepreneurWhen the world's largest fragrance company showed Halle Berry a prototype bottle for her debut perfume, Berry said no. The simple rectangular design failed to convey her personality.
Five Ways To Avoid Swine Flu While Traveling1. Research
Europe's Best And Worst Countries To Find A JobThe Euro Zone may be crawling out of recession, but it's still almost impossible in parts of the Continent to find a job.
World's Most Expensive HomesLast year, a 40-acre Greenwich, Conn., property with a 21,897-square-foot, 14-bedroom Jacobean manor was listed for $125 million. It was the world's second most expensive home for sale.
Celebrity Gossip
The Cranberries ready to recordThe Cranberries singer Dolores O'Riordan has revealed the band are planning to release a new album - their first for eight years.
Miley Cyrus to get Trace tattoo Miley Cyrus' brother Trace can't wait until she turns 18 so they can get matching tattoos.
John Mayer wants more sex John Mayer is tired of being labelled a womaniser and thinks he should probably be having sex with more girls.
Pre-nuptial prepared for Amy WinehouseAmy Winehouse's father Mitch Winehouse is making Blake Fielder-Civil sign a pre-nuptial agreement before they remarry, to prove he isn't after her money.
Gold production will continue to fall, despite a brief boost in 2009 and soaring prices, as deposits are exhausted and new discoveries remain elusive, say miners.
A figurine used to make King Kong come to life in the 1933 film sold for more than 120,000 pounds Tuesday in London, Christie's auction house said.